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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



A HISTORY 



The Clapboard Trees 



THIRD PARISH 

DEDHAM, MASS. 
Now THE Unitarian Parish, West Dedham 

1736 1556 



BV / 

GEORGE WILLIS COOKE 



RECENTLY MINISTER OF THE PARISH 




BOSTON 

GEO. H. ELLIS, 141 FRANKLIN STREET 

1887 



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COPYRIGHT HY 

GEORGE WILLIS COOKE, 

1S87. 



PREFACE. 



The four sermons delivered in January and June, 1886, have 
now been entirely rewritten and the matter rearranged. The 
parish records have been carefully studied, and what is of 
interest in their contents is here reproduced. The town records, 
as well as those of the first and second parishes and the Baptist 
church and society, have been also made use of, whenever pos- 
sible. The aim has been to save from destruction whatever can 
have any value in connection with the history of the parish. 
When the Clapboard Trees parish records have been copied, the 
original spelling and phraseology have been retained ; but no 
attempt has been made to copy the minute details of the town 
and second parish records. The illustrations have been intro- 
duced with the hope of adding to the interest of the volume. 
The picture of the Summer Street house is a very good repro- 
duction of a slight sketch made by Dr. Frances Howe. The plot 
of 1754 and the map of 1807 are from rude outlines found 
among the parish papers. The picture of the meeting-house is 
after a pen-sketch made from a photograph. It may be added 
that these pages have been written for those who live or have 
lived in the parish, and who have again and again talked over 
the incidents in this history. The following letter explains why 
these pages appear in print : — 

West Dedham, April 25, 1SS7. 
Rev. George Willis Cooke: 

Dear Sir, — At a very full meeting of the members of the congregation of the 
Third Parish, held yesterday after morning service, it was unanimously voted, — 

" That the thanks of the congregation be extended to our pastor for the able 
discourses preached by him in commemorating our one hundred and fiftieth 
anniversary, and that a Committee of three be appointed to request a copy of 
thtse historical sermons for publication." 

In accordance with the above vote, the undersigned were appointed as that 
Committee ; and we take pleasure in sending you a record of the action of the 
meeting and to ask of you to furnish a copy of the historical discourses for 



PREFACE 



publication. Allow the Committee to add their belief that the society as well 
as many strangers interested in this old parish were much pleased by the care- 
ful and able manner in which you had "searched the records" in the prepara- 
tion of these sermons. Some misunderstanding between us seems to have thus 
far prevented your acting in this matter, but the Committee feel it is not too 
late to act now ; and especially, in view of the publication of the addresses at 
Dedham's anniversary last September, it is desirable that our history be printed. 
The Committee desire to co-operate with you in any way you may suggest. 
Awaiting your reply, we arc yours sincerely, 

JAS. M. ELLIS, ) Committee 

ERASTUS E. GAY, of 

MARY E. FISHER,) Third Parish. 



Postscript. — Since the following pages were in type, additional 
information about the Rev. Andrew Tyler has been found in the 
Genealogy of the Richards Family, compiled by the Rev. Abner 
Morse, the substance of which has been given in a paragraph on 
page 43, at the risk of its conflicting with other statements in the 
same chapter. The same work gives additional information about 
Dr. Joseph Richards. In George L. Hosmer's Historical Sketch 
of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine, will be found an account of 
Joseph, Belcher, and George Tyler, who settled in that town. 

The portrait of Warren Colburn has been kindly furnished free 
of charge by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., the publishers of his Intel- 
lectual Arithmetic, a work now used in a majority of Massachu- 
setts towns. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

I. Formation of the Parish, 7 

II. Locating the Meeting-house, 16 

III. Rev. Josiah Dwight, the First Minister, 26 

IV. Rev. Andrew Tyler, the Second Minister, 39 

V. The Parish in the Revolutionary War, 61 

VI. Settling a New Minister, 70 

VII. The New Meeting-house, 76 

The Ministerial Fund, 90 

VIII. Rev. Thomas Thacher, the Third Minister, 94 

Mr. Thacher's Will, 106 

IX. Rev. John White, the Fourth Minister, no 

X. The Baptist Society, 120 

XI. The Parish in Recent Years, 125 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

House where Dr. Cutler preached in 1731, 22 

Autograph of Josiah Dwight 36 

Plot of the Land given Mr. Tyler, 40 

Autograph of Andrew Tyler, 43 

Autograph of Thomas Thacher 72 

Map of the Parish in 1807, 77 

Meeting-house built in 1S08, 8i 

Portrait of John White 112 

Bust of Warren Colburn, 126 



THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH. 



FORMATION OF THE PARISH. 

Nothing of thrilling interest can there be in the history 
of a quiet country parish, — only the simple story of lives 
faithfully lived and God truly served. When we remember, 
however, the influence of the New England meeting-houses 
in developing the character of her people and in fostering 
the spirit of liberty, even one of the most unpretentious 
of them obtains a new significance. At the present time, 
when there is a great interest in everything that has a his- 
tory, it may not be out of place to consider the doings of a 
country parish through a century and a half. The growing 
interest in every phase of the history of our country is full 
of promise, for the life of the present is the product of the 
life of the past. 

No myths and traditions of a primeval time cluster about 
the origin of our country, and there are no legends of 
chivalry and romance anywhere along its annals. It is all 
plain history from first to last, with only here and there a 
bordering touch of sentiment and poetry. The history of 
a people struggling for liberty and equal rights, however, 
is never one that can be uninteresting to those who love 
their fellow-men. When that struggle is for freedom of 
soul and for manly independence, every phase of it is writ- 
ten with promise. It is well, therefore, that we should be 
curious about the simple history of the religious, political, 
and social life that has been forming on this continent dur- 
ing the last two centuries and a half. The more carefully 



8 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

we study it in the light of the growing spirit of mental and 
political liberty, the more cause shall we have to admire it 
and to believe it providential. 

The history of a country parish in New England to those 
who now compose it is a history of their ancestors. From 
the first settlement of the Clapboard Trees parish to the 
present time, the same names constantly appear. Nearly 
every one of the first settlers now has descendants living in 
the parish. If the homely facts set down in the parish 
records can have little interest for whoever is concerned 
only with the large events and ideas that affect mankind, 
not so with those who care for the names of the persons 
from whom they are descended. The lives of men are not 
made up from great events, but from the small concerns 
of the home and the routine of daily vocations. In the 
homes, the schools, and the meeting-houses of Massachu- 
setts, the simple, sturdy, and true life of its people has been 
developed. It cannot be out of place, therefore, to look on 
any spot where that life is in the process of formation, and 
see how it goes on. 

Nearly fifty years passed, after the settlement of Dcdhani 
in 1636, according to Mr. Thacher, before any effort was 
made to settle the western part of the town. The causes 
lay in the necessity for a compact settlement so long as 
there were any threatenings from the Indians, and in the 
desire that each community should be within reach of a very 
strict government. The earliest mention of this part of the 
town is an entry in the town records of 1640, when a grant 
of land in Rock Meadow was made to the Rev, John Allin, 
the first minister of the town ; and it would seem that other 
persons had already located land in that vicinity. In 1663, 
Nathaniel Colburn received a grant of land at Pond Plain ; 
and Joseph Ellis one on Fox Hill in 1694. It is probable 
that the first house was built not far from 1675 or 1680, for 
the first of these dates would agree with the statement 
made by Mr. Thacher. In 1682, the town made a rule that 
no one was to remove to a greater distance than two miles 
from the meeting-house without a special license ; and this 



FORMATION OF THE PARISH 9 

would indicate that such removals had been made or were 
contemplated. At about this period, the houses of the first 
inhabitants of the town began to decay ; and there was a 
necessity for building new ones. The tendency was, as this 
occurred, for the sake of more land to remove farther from 
the meeting-house to the farms which had been already im- 
proved in the western part of the town. 

At a meeting of the selectmen, held Dec. 31, 1663, they 
decided to lay before the next town meeting the following 
proposition : " It is agreed to propose to the town that the 
proprietors in the clapboard trees would renew their lines 
some time this winter." This would indicate that the hill 
where the meeting-house has always been located was 
already granted to different persons, who made use of it 
for the cutting of the timber growing there. The name 
Clapboard Trees had probably come into use even earlier, 
and was derived from the character of the timber growing 
on the spot. On the first settlement of the town, clap- 
boards had been of great value ; and, as new houses were 
being built, they were in constant demand. A saw-mill was 
built at an early day in the vicinity of what is now Ellis Sta- 
tion. In time, the whole western part of the town was 
known as the Clapboard Trees ; but later this name has 
been applied only to the hill and the region eastward of it. 

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, a consider- 
able number of houses had been built in the western part of 
the town. From time to time, roads were laid out and built ; 
but no other mention of it is made in the town records until 
the inhabitants were numerous enough to wish to have a 
meeting-house and religious services of their own. In the 
spring of 171 7, a proposition was before the town to free 
those living in the southern part of the town from paying 
the ministerial tax; and it is probable that those asking this 
favor were already having preaching of their own some- 
where in the neighborhood of the "old saw-mill," near the 
present site of Ellis Station on the New York & New Eng- 
land Railroad. For more than a dozen years the agitation 
for better religious accommodations was continued by the 



10 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

people of this part of the town, and it is quite certain that 
they had preaching among them as early as 1722. They 
asked to be set off into a separate precinct or parish, to 
have the meeting-house removed nearer the centre of the 
town or to have two ministers supported by the town. The 
town would not accept either of these three propositions ; 
but it did give permission that preaching should be had, and 
it freed those attending it from the customary tax. The 
town records contain the following concise and expressive 
accounts of what was attempted and the results : — 

May 13, 1717. — It was further proposed if it be the mind of the 
town that the estates of the persons at the old saw mill and other per- 
son's estates living five miles from the meeting-house shall be assessed 
to the minister's salary freeing them of their head money, provided they 
pay their head money to the place where they constantly hear and being 
under the hand of the receiver that they hear some one. Voted in the 
affirmative. 

March 7, 1721. — This day the inhabitants of this town living at or 
near the old saw mill did present their petition to the town desiring the 
town to free them from paying to the minister in this town in order to 
have preaching amongst themselves. Voted in the negative. 

May 15, 1721. — This 15th day of May several of the inhabitants of 
the southerly part of this town did present a petition to the town desir- 
ing the town to set them off from the northerly part of this town in 
order to be a township among them. Non concurence. 

March 6, 1722, — This day some of the inhabitants of the south- 
westwardly part of this town did present a petition to the town desiring 
the town to set them off as a township or precinct. 

This day also the inhabitants of the clapboardtrees and other inhabi- 
tants of this town did present a petition to the town desiring to have 
the meeting house removed or to be set off as a township or precinct, 

April 17, 1722. — This day the inhabitants of the south part of this 
town at or near the old saw mill ]5resented a petition to the town desir- 
ing to be set off from this town as a township or a precinct. It was 
proposed to the town whether it be their mind to free from paying to 
the ministry here for the present such inhabitants as live from the town 
beyond Hawses Brook, and shall agree and do their part with rest of 
the mentioned inhabitants to obtain and maintain preaching amongst 
themselves. Voted in the affirmative. 

It was further proposed to the town to choose a committee to con- 
sider the petition of some of the inhabitants for a township or precinct 
at or near the old saw mill, and to view where may be the most proper 



FORMATION OF THE PARISH II 

place for bounds if they judge it necessary to make report of the whole 
to the town at their next general meeting. Voted in the affirmative; 
and the committee chosen by vote were Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, Lieut. 
John Metcalf and Lieut. Ebenezar Woodward. 

October 14, 1723.— Samuel Dexter called to be the minister. Joseph 
Ellis, Jr., Jonathan Onion, John Gay, John Richards, Ebenezar Fales 
and Lusher Gay did not consent to the vote of the town to grant Mr. 
Dexter an hundred and fifty pounds settlement. 

May 15, 1724.— It was also put to the town whether it be their 
mind to grant the petition of several of the inhabitants at or near the old 
• saw mill, that they might have a township. Voted in the affirmative. 

May 10, 1725.— It was put to the town whether it be their mind to 
grant the first part or paragraph in a petition of some of the inhabitants 
on the southerly part of the town so far as to free them from paying for 
the maintenance of the ministry in this town from this time, such of them 
as have usually attended the public worship of God there, to free them 
for this present year. Voted in the affirmative. 

March 6, 1727.— This day there being a petition from the westerly 
part of the town, it was proposed to the town whether they would consider 
of the said petition until the town meeting in May, and passed in the 
affirmative. 

This day the town was served with a copy from the General Court of 
a petition from the southerly part of this town and from the westerly 
part of the town of Stoughton. 

It is this day put to the town whether they will choose a committee 
to draw up an answer to the copy of the petition from the Court of the 
southerly part of this town. Passed in the negative. 

It was also this day put to the town whether they will leave the con- 
sideration of the copy of the said petition until the town meeting in May. 
Passed in the Negative. 

It was this day put to the town, whether they would reconsider the 
two last votes with respect to the copy of the petition. Answered in the 
affirmative. 

It was this day put to the town whether they would choose a com- 
mittee to consider of the copy of the petition from the Court of the 
southerly part of this town to give their reasons to the town at our 
meeting in May next why the petition should not be granted. Voted in 
the affirmative. The committee chosen was Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, Lieut. 
John Metcalf, Lieut. Ebenezar Woodward. 

May 10, 1727. — It was this day put to the town to hear some propo- 
sals from sundry of the inhabitants of the southerly part of this town to 
see if the town can come into some good agreement: first, either to main- 
tain two ministers at the charge of the whole town ; this was answered in 
the negative. Secondly, as to remove the meeting house more into the 
center of the town than where it stands. This was answered in the neg- 



12 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

ative. Thirdly, whether they would leave the determination of the said 
proposals to a committee of disinterested men. This was answered in 
the negative. 

July 31, 1727.— It was this day put to the town whether they would 
grant the first paragraph in the copy from the Great and General Court 
of a petition from the southerly part of this town, namely, to be set off 
in order to a distinct precinct. This was answered in the negative. 

It was also put to the town whether they would remove the old meet- 
ing house more into the center of the town than where it now stands. 
This was answered in the negative. 

It was further put to the town whether they would choose a commit- 
tee to show cause to the Great and General Court the next session, on 
the first Friday of the said session, why the petition should not be 
granted. Answered in the affirmative ; and the committee chosen was 
Thomas Fuller, William Bullard, and Lieut. Joshua Fisher. 

November 8, 1727. — It was also this day put to the town whether they 
would repeal the vote entered in this book in the year 1717 with respect 
to the freeing the heads of such persons from paying to the minister's 
salary as live five miles from the meeting house. This was passed in 
the negative. 

Failing to secure what they had so persistently asked for, 
the discontented part of the town sent to the General Court 
a petition stating the difficulties under which they labored, 
owing to the distance they were from the meeting-house, and 
asking that a new precinct be created for their benefit or 
that the meeting-house be more centrally located. A com- 
mittee was appointed, which reported July 4, 1727, as follows : 

That viewing the situation, and considering the circumstances, are of 
opinion that it will be inconvenient to grant the prayer of the petition 
at present; but for as much as it appears to the committee that the 
major part of the petitioners labor under great difficulties in the winter 
season, in attending the Public Worship of God, by reason of their dis- 
tance from the Meeting-House, the Committee propose that the Public 
Worship of God be performed by a Minister, to be provided by the 
petitioners, in some private house, as near the center as may be, for five 
months in the year, viz., November, December, January, P^ebruary and 
March, and that there be allowed thirty shillings per Sabbath for the said 
service, the charge to be borne by the whole Town, and to continue until 
the further order of the Court. 

Not securing the aid of the General Court in their effort to 
obtain a new precinct, the agitators for a division of the par- 



FORMATION OF THE PARISH 1 3 

ish renewed their efforts before the town meeting, as the 
following entries on the town records will show : — 

May 13, 1728. — It was proposed to the town whether they would 
grant money for the support of preaching in the southerly part of the 
town, according to the act of the Great and General Court ; and this vote 
passed in the affirmative. 

It was put to the town whether they would remove the meeting house 
more into the center of the town than where it now stands, to accommo- 
date the whole town except in Springfield corner ; and this passed in 
the negative. 

It was this day put to the town to know if it be the mind of the town 
to grant the petition from some of the southerly part of the town to be 
set off a distinct precinct or township, according to the bound set in said 
petition in order to join with a part of the town of Stoughton ; and this 
vote passed in the negative. 

September 2, 1728. — It was this day put to the town if it be the mind 
of the town to grant the petition which was brought by some of the 
southerly part of the town to set them off a township according to the 
petition, provided that Stoughton will set off the westerly part of that 
town to join with them; and this vote passed in the affirmative. 

December 2, 1728. — It was this day put to the town whether it be 
the mind of the town to erect a meeting house for the public worship of 
God where it may best accommodate the said town of Dedham in gen- 
eral, excepting Springfield inhabitants and that neighborhood, who may 
be exempted from the charge of the same ; and this vote passed in the 
negative. 

May 12, 1729. — It was put to the town to know their mind whether 
the monev granted by the town in May the 13th, 1728, to support preach- 
ing in the southerly part of Dedham was intended for more than one 
year. Passed in the negative. 

It was put to the town to know whether it be their minds to come into 
any measures more than they have done for the release of such families 
as live remote from public worship in Dedham. Passed in the negative. 

It is evident that by this time a good deal of feeling had 
been stirred up, and the town was as persistent in rejecting 
the demands of the people of the proposed new parish as 
they were in pressing its claims. All the propositions 
presented to the town being rejected, resort was had once 
more to the legislative power. 

Petitions were presented to the General Court by Joseph 
Smith, John Everett, Samuel Guild, Jonathan Battleson, 



14 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

also by John Dean and others, Samuel Billiard and others, 
James Fales and Ebenezer Hcaley, asking that a parish be 
formed out of the southern part of Dedham and the northern 
part of Stoughton. The committee to whom these peti- 
tions were referred reported that they had viewed the 
ground, and they made the following recommendation in 
favor of a division : — 

We humbly are of opinion that it be made into a distinct township, 
the bounds of the whole to be as follows : beginning at a place called 
Purgatory on Neponset River, where it may most conveniently take the 
house and home lot of Josiah Fisher, Junr. from thence to a place called 
the cross ways, taking in the house and home lot of John Hawes, from *' 
thence so as to take in the house and home lot of Lusher Gay, 
from thence so as to take in the house and home lot of John Baker, 
from thence to the line for the precinct at Springfield, so as to take in the 
house and home lot of Amos Fisher, thence by the said line to Bubbling 
Brook, from whence to Walpole line and by the said line to Traphole 
Brook and by the said brook to Neponset River and by the same to 
the first mentioned station ; and that the petitioners have leave to bring 
in a bill accordingly. And, whereas, there has been and still remains an 
unhappy difference among the inhabitants about the placing an house 
for the public worship of God, it is therefore humbly proposed that the 
said House be ordered in such place and time as a committee of this 
Court shall appoint, so as to accommodate the inhabitants of Dedham 
and all the inhabitants of this proposed town. 

This report was acted upon during the session, and the 
new parish was established by law. In the mean tmie, the 
effort to secure justice at the hands of the town meeting was 
continued. Even after the new precinct was established, the 
subject was discussed; but all propositions looking to a con- 
tinuation of the old relations were negatived. The follow- 
ing are the concluding entries on the town records: — 

March 2, 1730. — It was put to the town whether they will grant 
thirty pounds to the inhabitants of the southerly part of Dedham in 
order to the maintaining preaching with part of Stoughton among them- 
selves. Passed in the negative. 

It was put to the town whether they will remove the meeting house 
more into the center of the town. Passed in the negative. 

It was put to the town whether they will maintain two ministers at 
the charge of the town out of one box or treasury. Passed in the 
negative. 



FORMATION OF THE PARISH 1 5 

It was put to the town whether they will maintain two ministers at 
the town charge, exempting Springfield from the charge. Passed in 
the negative. 

May II, 1730. — It was proposed to the town whether they would 
grant the petition of some inhabitants of this town that the town would 
build a new meeting house near the midway between where the meeting 
house now stands and the cross ways at John Hawses. It passed in 
the negative. 

It was also proposed to the town whether they would free the inhabi- 
tants of the southerly part of the town who usually meet at Nathaniel 
Guild's house paying the ministers rate in the town this present year. 
It passed in the negative. 

April 14, 1731. — It was pu.t to the town if they would make null 
and void a vote of the town passed Sept. 2, 1728, setting off a part of 
Dedham to join with a part of Stoughton for a township. It passed in 
the negative. 

May 12, 1731. — Upon the desire of a number of the free holders of 
the town set forth in the warrant for the meeting it was put to the town 
(i), if they would reconsider and make null and void a vote of the town 
passed September 2, 1728, setting off a part of this town to join with a 
part of Stoughton to be a township ; passed in the negative ; (2) or else 
if it were the mind of the town to congregate together in the most con- 
venient place therefor, this passed in the negative ; (3) if it were the 
mind of the town that the greatest number that can agree and unite in a 
place to build a second meeting house and settle a minister and maintain 
preaching they and all that shall see cause to join in said good work 
shall be freed from any ministerial charge in any other part of the town : 
voted in the nesfative. 



II. 

LOCATING THE 'meeting-house. 

The order of the General Court creating the new parish 
or precinct was passed Oct. 8, 1730; and the first legal 
meeting was held October 22 at the house of John Ellis, 
near the present Ellis Station. This house was selected as 
a place for holding the parish meetings, and for the Sunday 
services of the parish, probably because it was a tavern and 
afforded the necessary room for these purposes. At this 
meeting, John Everett was chosen moderator; James Fales, 
Jr., clerk; and John Everett, James Fales, Jr., and Ebenezer 
Healey, assessors. November 8, another meeting was held 
at the house of Nathaniel Guild, who lived near the site of 
the present Orthodox church in Norwood, when fifty pounds 
were voted for preaching, and a committee appointed to 
secure a minister for si.x months. The meetings were to 
be held for three months at the house of John Ellis, and for 
three at that of Nathaniel Guild, if it could be procured ; 
if not, for the whole six months at the house of John Ellis. 
It was also proposed to build a meeting-house at the centre 
of the parish, to be forty feet in length, thirty-six in width, 
and twenty feet stud or thereabouts. At a meeting held 
Jan. 20, 1 73 1, it was voted to procure a surveyor to ascertain 
the centre of the parish ; and a committee was appointed 
to buy boards, shingles, and clapboards. Although the 
centre of the parish was ascertained, which was probably a 
little south of the present Clapboard Trees church, and the 
work of building a meeting-house begun, not all the people 
were by any means satisfied with the location. The differ- 
ences of opinion led to the holding of a meeting in May, 
when it was decided to have "a loving conference" together 
June 7. Then it was thought best to leave the decision as to 



LOCATING THE MEETING-HOUSE I7 

the location to the General Court. A committee of the 
General Court accordingly viewed the situation, and made 
report that " the people were very unsatisfied among them- 
selves as to a place for the meeting-house to stand on." 
The parish had as many as five places under consideration, — 
"Onion's knovvl, Onion's bars, ye southerd corner of ye field 
call ye rye field, ye south end of ye common land lying 
between John Cobb's and Doctor Richard's, and ye place 
where it now stands, according to ye agreement." At a 
meeting held June 21, at the request of the committee of 
the General Court, the parish voted to build on the south 
end of the common land ; and this place was recommended 
by the committee and ordered by the General Court. A 
location having been decided upon, a change of opinion 
seems to have taken place ; and, at several meetings held 
during the summer and autumn, it was voted not to build 
upon this spot. An attempt was made to give up preaching 
services until the question of location was finally decided, 
but this was voted down by the parish. September 6, it 
was again voted to build on the common land, and a com- 
mittee of two was appointed to purchase the frame of a 
meeting-house standing near the houses of Jonathan Onion 
and Joseph Ellis, if it could be had on reasonable terms, and 
remove it as soon as possible to the common land. In 
October, this action was negatived ; and it was decided not 
to raise the three hundred pounds already voted. Decem- 
ber I, the parish met at the meeting-house near the house of 
Joseph Ellis, and voted "that preaching be performed in 
this house ye next quarter of a year ensuing ye date hereof." 
March 20, 1732, a committee was appointed to build a meet- 
ing-house on the site selected by the General Court. At 
a meeting in July two other locations were voted on ; but 
no action was taken. Dec. 5, 1732, the parish met at the 
house of Nathaniel Guild. 

It was put to vote if it be ye mind of ye precinct to grant ye sum of 
one hundred and twenty pounds of money to support preaching in said 
precinct for one full year from ye date hereof, that is, such a part of ye 
time in ye House near ye house of Joseph Ellis in said precinct and no 



l8 THE CLAl'liOAKn TREES PARISH 

longer than such time as ye house near ye house of Benjamin Fairbanks 
dwelling house set up by James Fales, Junr., Simon Pettee, Ebenezer 
Dean and Ebenezer Healy be inclosed and a floor be laid down in it, 
then ye remainder of ye year that preaching be performed in ye house 
last expressed, and to choose a committee to procure a minister, and 
voted in the affirmative. 

This location was on what is now Prospect Street in Nor- 
wood, near Nahatan Street, to the west. Succeeding this, 
an effort was made to pinxhase the house near Joseph ElHs, 
and to use it in completing this house. The General Court 
was also asked to negative its former decision and to ap- 
prove of the Fairbanks house. 

A majority of the parish being favorable to the house 
near Jonathan Fairbanks's, meetings were held there, and 
an effort was made to establish that as the permane'nt loca- 
tion. The people at the Clapboard Trees were not satisfied 
with this action, and carried the question to the General 
Court. Two meeting-houses had been erected in the par- 
ish : one near the house of Joseph Ellis, in 1731 ; and one 
near the house of Jonathan Fairbanks, in 1732. Although 
these houses were less than half a mile apart, they did not 
equally accommodate all the people of the parish ; and each 
locality had its merits to those who lived nearer to it than 
to the other. 

The building of two meeting-houses indicates a strong 
feeling on the part of the people, and a determination to be 
accommodated in regard to location. As the precinct could 
not have two churches, and no compromise being possible, 
it was necessary to ask for a decision from the General 
Court. When that body was appealed to, it sent out 
another committee, which recommended a division of the 
precinct. According to this decision, made in April, 1734, 
Joseph Ellis, the two Fishers, Aaron Ellis, and others, resi- 
dent at the Clapboard Trees, with their estates, were "laid 
back to the old parish " ; while the remainder were formed 
into the south precinct, which, at a meeting held Feb. g, 
1735. voted money for the settlement of the Rev. Thomas 
"Balch and a salary of one hundred and twenty pounds. 



LOCATING THE MEETING-HOUSE I9 

Eight persons 2:)rotested against this action, on the ground 
that they were under engagement to a minister already 
settled in the Clapboard Trees parish ; and these persons 
were, by the action of the General Court, connected with 
that parish at their request. 

The General Court was quite in error, if it thought this 
arrangement would cause the difficulties to cease. The 
inhabitants of the Clapboard Trees were not better situated 
than at first, and they had no purpose whatever of going 
back to the first parish. What they wanted was a meeting- 
house of their own, within easy distance of their own 
houses ; and this they were determined to get as soon as 
possible. Not only was the distance from the old meeting- 
house objected to, but there were other causes of dissatis- 
faction. The minister in the first parish at that time was 
Samuel Dexter, who was extremely puritanical and ascetic, 
and who was possessed with little of the spirit of tolera- 
tion. The first parish was torn with dissensions, and it was 
in a constant agitation from those who would not submit to 
its discipline. Some of the inhabitants in the Clapboard 
Trees remained away from the communion service, and for 
this they were cited before the church. One or more of the 
others were guilty of contentious acts, which led to much 
controversy and the calling of a council. All these causes 
had the effect of agitating the people and of making them 
more resolute for having a meeting of their own. 

At the very next meeting of the first precinct, after the 
people in the Clapboard Trees had been returned to it by 
order of the General Court, held May 14, 1735, an effort 
was made to obtain permission to worship in the Clapboard 
Trees meeting-house. The action taken is thus recorded on 
the first parish records : — 

Voted, if it be the mind of the precinct to give them consent that 
such and no more of this precinct as now meet at the meeting house 
near Jonathan Onion's may enjoy Gospel ordinances there. This passed 
in the negative. 

In September of the same year, another effort was made to 
obtain permission to legally use the meeting-house they had 



20 TiiK claim;uaki) tkkes parish 

l)uilt, this time askini; that two ministers be supported by 
the parish. The vote is reported as follows : — 

A request of the inhabitants of the place called Clapboard Trees 
desires they might be dismissed from paying anything to the support 
of the Revd. Mr. Dexter, or otherwise to raise the taxes for the support 
of both ministers upon the whole precinct. The Society by their vote 
declared for the negative. 

In the mean time, a minister had been secured for the 
Clapboard Trees meeting-house. Having a minister settled 
among them, and preaching to them every Sunday, was 
likely to help their cause, at least with the General Court. 
They also brought their demands before the first church, 
asking for a dismission to form a new church in their own 
neighborhood. The action of the church can be best under- 
stood in the words of its own records : — 

May iSth, 1735. — A letter was communicated to the church signed 
by eight of the brethren who dwell, in or near that part of the town 
called Clapboard Trees, the purport of which was to signify to the 
Church their intention to be embodied into a separate Church state, and 
to desire a dismission for that purpose ; and that the Church by the 
Elder and Messenger would assist them in the performance of said 
service, and in tlie installment of the Revd. Mr. Dwight over them 
as Pastor. 

Upon which the 'following vote was taken : — 

Brethren, if it be agreeable to you to give a dismission to our breth- 
ren Thomas Herring, Nathanael Gay, Jonathan Onion, Lusher Gay, 
Daniel Fisher, John Bracket, Joseph Ellis and Ebenezar Kingsbury in 
order to their being gathered into a Church state separate from us — 
as they have signified it to be their desire in a written instrument which 
hath now been read to you — please to signify it by your uplifted 
hands. Passed in negative. 

After which it was signified to the Church that their having nega- 
tived the first request, rendered it needless to offer to them the second ; 
and it was farther signified to the Church that it was expected that the 
brethren would prosecute the separation froin us, and the intended 
installment. For which purposes they might have a Council on the 
spot the next Wednesday. 

The church then voted to ap[)oint a committee, consisting 
of the pastor, the deacons, and three others, to give their 
reasons to the churches for refusing to dismiss the members 



LOCATING THE MEETING-HOUSE 21 

living at the Clapboard Trees to form a new church. The 
reasons presented by this committee are not given in the 
church book. Five days later, the church decided not to 
send delegates to the ecclesiastical council held in the 
Clapboard Trees meeting-house ; but in June the action 
then taken was recorded in these words : — 

A Council of five Churches, viz., the Church of Medfield, the Church 
of Brookline, the Church of Hingham, the Church of Milton, and 
the Church of Natick, convened at the Clapboard Trees upon the 
request of the Brethren petitioners for a dismission; and on the 4th of 
June they embodied them into a distinct and separate Church, except- 
ing John Gay, who is continued under the administration of our Church, 
and Ebenezar Kingsbury, who belongs to the South Church ; and four 
others, that were not in Church fellowship, were allowed to embody with 
those Brethren; viz., Maj. Joseph Ellis, John Baker, Benjamin Fair- 
banks and John Richards. 

In regard to the action of the first church in calling 
several of its members to account for not attending com- 
munion, it is to be remembered that they lived at the 
Clapboard Trees, and that they were seeking to form a 
church of their own. It cannot be said that the action of 
either party to this controversy was justifiable. It is a good 
illustration of the constant difficulties arising in the New- 
England churches throughout the eighteenth century, owing 
to the repressive spirit which sought to keep men within 
the closest 'bounds. Every act of men was brought under 
the scrutiny of church or town authorities, and they were 
subjected to very exacting regulations. At this very time, 
the selectmen in Dedham were in tbe habit of ordering all 
persons coming into the town to leave it at once, if they 
had any thought they were not of good character or incapa- 
ble of supporting themselves. This disposition to suppress 
independent action was galling to many, and was not easily 
submitted to by not a few. The spirit of political and 
religious independence was growing, and manifested itself 
in many ways. 

Another source of difficulty in this case, as in many 
others at this time, was the connection of Church and State. 



22 THK CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

The churches were supported by tlie towns ; and a tax was 
levied on all persons living in the town, as in the case of 
other taxes. Not only was this the case, but persons not 
attending church were fined. These regulations had al- 
ready begun to be a source of trouble, for there was an in- 
creasing number of persons who felt them to be oppressive 
and unjust. As in the present case, they helped to create 
hard feeling, to make one party oppressive and the other 
contentious and rebellious, and to rend the churches with 
the bitterest controversies about matters of trivial impor- 
tance. On the one hand was felt the need of a strong rule 




WHERE DK. CUTI.KR PKEACHED IN 1731. 



in behalf of purity and good order, and on the other was 
manifested a growing spirit of manly independence. Both 
were right, but they were not brought together in the best 
manner. 

It has been stated by some of those who have written on 
the early history of the western part of Dedham, that the 
first religious services held in that part of the town were 
after the order of the Church of England, and were con- 
ducted in the house of Joseph Smith, on what is now Sum- 
mer Street, in 1731. It is quite certain that those church 
services were not the first gatherings for public worsliip 
held in West Dedham. Those at the house of John Ellis 



LOCATING THE MEETING-HOUSE 23 

certainly were earlier, and those in the Clapboard Trees 
meeting-house preceded them by some months. It is inter- 
esting to note, however, that the Church of England services 
began in this part of the town. They were conducted by 
the Rev. Timothy Cutler, D.D., a graduate of Harvard 
College, who was employed by the London Society for the 
Propagation of tlie Gospel in Foreign Parts. He came to 
Dedham at the desire of a few Churchmen and of some 
"dissenters willing to be informed," and had a monthly 
congregation of from forty to fifty persons. He continued 
his services until Christmas^ 1733, and occasionally for a 
short time longer. Though the Episcopal church began 
thus early in West Dedham, it never gained any foothold, 
and was afterwards continued in the vicinity of the first 
parish meeting-house. 

Having secured their meeting-house and minister, and get- 
ting no favor from the first parish and church, the next step 
for the people in the Clapboard Trees was to appeal to the 
General Court. This they did immediately after the instal- 
lation of their minister ; for their petition asking for a sepa- 
rate precinct was presented to the General Court June 22, 
1735, and appears on the "journal of the Honourable House 
of Representatives of His Majesty's Province of Massachu- 
setts-Bay in New England," as follows : — 

A petition of Jonathan Ellis and Jedediah Tucker, and thirty others, 
inhabitants of Dedham, and of that part of the Town called the Clab- 
board Trees, praying that for as much as the Court have set them off 
from the South Precinct there, as well as the North, that a committee of 
this Court may be appointed to repair to that part of Dedham called the 
Clabboard Trees, and in order to adjust matters, and prevent differences 
between them and the other Precincts, notifying all concerned of the 
time and place of meeting, and that the said Committee may be impow- 
red to delineate certain bounds and lines whereby they may be circum- 
scribed, and that they may be also invested with equal Powers Priviliges 
& Immunities with any other Precinct or Parish; which accompanied 
a Petition of Mr. Byfield Lyde praying that his Farm in said Town of 
Dedham may belong to and accounted as part of the Clabboard Tree 
Precinct. Read and Ordered, That the Petitioners serve the North and 
South Precincts in Dedham with Copies of these Petitions, that they 
may show cause, if any they have, on the first Thursday of the next sit- 



24 THli CLArr.OARD TREES PARISH 

ting of tlie Court, why the prayer thereof should not be granted, and the 
Totitions are referred in the meantime for Consideration. 

This petition was taken up in the Council November 26, 
when it was read a second time in connection with the an- 
swers of the north and south precincts. The Council then 

Ordered, Tliat the prayer of the Petition be so far granted as that 
Joseph Wilder, Esq; with such as the honourable House of Representa- 
tives shall join be a Committee to repair to the Place Petitioned for to 
be a Precinct and view the same, and consider the Circumstances thereof, 
and hear the Parties for and against the I'etition, and report as soon as 
may be, what may be proper for this Court to do thereon, the Committee 
to give seasonable Notice of the time of their going, and the Charge 
thereof to be paid as this Court shall order. 

This was read in the House November 30, and concurred 
with. The committee appointed consisted of Joseph Wilder 
of the Council, and, from the House, of James Warren of 
Plymouth and Eleazer Porter of Hadley. After this com- 
mittee had been to Dedham and attended to their duties, they 
made report of the conclusion arrived at by them : — 

The Committee having been on the Land petitioned for to be a Pre- 
cinct, viewed the same, considered the Circumstances thereof, and heard 
the Parties for and against the Prayer of the Petition, are humbly of 
Opinion, That the Prayer of the Petition be so far granted, as that a Line 
be run from the House of Richard Ellis Northeasterly to the Center or 
Midway betwixt the Meeting House in the South Precinct and in the 
Clabboard Trees, and from thence to the House of Ebenezer Ellis, and 
from thence to the Crossways so called, and be established as a divi- 
sional Line betwixt the South Precinct in Dedham and that of the Clab- 
board Trees, and that the Land lying betwixt that and the Line formerly 
made and settled betwixt the North and South Precincts, with the 
Inhabitants thereon, with the Families and their Estates that have been 
formerly set to them by this Court out of the North Precinct in said 
Dedham, as also the Family and Estate of Benjamin Fairbank, and such 
Part of the Estates of Richard Ellis, Ebenezer Ellis and Eliphalet Pond, 
lying in Dedham, that may fall to the Southward of the tirst mentioned 
Line, be erected into a separate Precinct, & have Parish Powers & Priv- 
iliges granted to them, saving the Families, Persons & Estates hereafter 
named, that may fall within the bounds of the Parish above delineated, 
viz. Ebenezer Bracket, Nathanael Kingsbury, Amos Fisher, and Jonah 
Fisher, who are still continued to the North Precinct in Dedham, to do 
Duty and receive Privilege, and William Bullard, Nathan Lewis, Samuel 



LOCATING THE MEETING-HOUSE 25 

Farrington, and John Cobb, who belong to the South Precinct, and are 
still to continue to do Duty and receive Privilege with them as hereto- 
fore, neither is this to be understood any ways to alter the Order of this 
Court formerly made, which obliges a Number of Families belonging to 
the Clabboard Trees, to pay to the South Precinct for a term of Years. 
The Committee are also of the Opinion that the Petition of Byfield 
Lyde, Esq; be dismissed. All which is humbly submitted, in the Name 
and by Order of the Committee, Joseph Wilder. 

This report was passed in the Council Jan. i, 1736, and 
was read and accepted in the House on the loth. By this 
action of the House, the report of the committee went into 
effect on that day. 

For a considerable period after its formation, the Clapboard 
Trees was called the second parish. It was so designated 
on the records and on the printed sermons of its earlier min- 
isters. This probably arose from the fact that the church 
in the west parish was organized earlier than that in the 
south parish, though the reverse was the case with regard to 
the precinct organization. By the end of the century, it was 
designated as the third parish. The parish records, however, 
used the name Clapboard Trees (so written at first). The 
village of West Dedham was designated as "the street" or 
as Cudham, as the south parish was usually called Tiot. 

In his History of Norzvood, Mr. Tinker says that in 1736 
seventy-eight persons were assessed in Tiot and fifty-two at 
the Clapboard Trees. 



III. 



REV. JOSIAH DVVIGHT, THF. FIRST MINISTF:R. 

Afti-:r so long a struggle, the people at the Clapboard 
Trees had secured the desire of their hearts, a meeting-house 
and a church of their own. Now began the jirocess of build- 
ing up their parish, completing their meeting-house, and 
establishing their church life. The destruction of the church 
records by fire in 1879, when the house then used as a par- 
sonage was burned, makes it impossible to trace the history 
of the church as a distinct organization. Much might have 
been gleaned from them about the early history of the church 
and parish. In a sermon preached on the second Sunday of 
the year iSol, Mr. Thacher said that "the church records 
previous to his settlement in this place, were in a very imper- 
fect state"; but they would have given us much of interest 
that we can only guess at now. How the church was organ- 
ized we do not know ; but its first deacons were Jonathan 
Onion and Joseph Ellis, the two men who had been most 
active in its formation, and who both lived under the very 
shadow of the meeting-house. Mr. White printed, in an 
ap])endi.\ to his Centennial Sermon of 1836, the Covenant of 
the church, otherwise it would have been lost. It shows a 
liberal spirit for the time in which it was written, and it con- 
tains but little of that abstract theology which usually forms 
the substance of creeds. It is a practical statement of a 
working Christianity, in the phraseology then common, and 
has an aim towards righteousness and godly living rather 
than in the direction of doctrine. It deserves to be repro- 
duced here as a part of the history of the church, with the 
names of the original signers : — 

We, whose names arc hereunto subscribed, apprehendin<^ ourselves 
called of God into a sacred fellowship with one anotlier in the profes- 



REV. JOSIAH DWIGHT, THE FIRST MINISTER 2/ 

sion and practice of the holy Christian Religion, as a particular church 
of the Lord Jesus Christ, do solemnly covenant with God and one 
another, as follows : In the first place, we avouch the Lord this day to 
be our God, yielding ourselves to him to be his servants, and choosing 
him to be our portion forever. We give up ourselves to the God whose 
name alone is Jehovah and is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be 
his people, to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes and his com- 
mandments and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice, declar- 
ing' our firm assent to the truths and hearty consent to the tenor of the 
Gospel. We accept of Jesus Christ in all his glorious offices. Propheti- 
cal, Priestly and Kingly — and depend on him in the way, which he hath 
prescribed for instruction. Pardon and Eternal life. We profess our 
serious resolution to deny, as the grace of God teaches, all ungodliness, 
and every worldly lust, and to live soberly, righteously and piously in 
the present evil world, to endeavor that our conversation may be, as 
becomes and adorns the Gospel. We promise, by the help of God's 
grace, to walk together in all the ways of holy communion, as becomes 
children in the family of Christ: charitably to support and conscien- 
tiously to attend the public worship of God in all the instituted duties 
thereof, and to submit to the discipline of his kingdom, to watch over 
one another with Christian circumspection, and endeavor our mutual 
edification and comfort. Furtheniiore, we dedicate our offspring with 
ourselves to the Lord, engaging to bring them up in His nurture and 
admonition, and as far as in us lies transmit the ordinances of God pure 
and entire to them. 

ALL THIS we do in the presence and fear of God, with a deep 
sense of our own unworthiness to be admitted into covenant with him 
and to enjoy the priviliges of the evangelical Church State, and our 
own insufficiency to perform the duties of it. And do therefore rely on, 
and pray to the God of Grace and Peace, that brought again from the 
dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant, to make us perfect in every good 
work, to do his will, working in us that, which is well pleasing in his 
sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Josiah Dwight, Joseph Ellis, 

Thomas Herring, John Brackett, 

Daniel Fisher, Joseph Ellis, 2nd., 

John Ga}-, John Baker, 

Nathaniel Gay, John Richards, 

Lusher Ga)-, Benjamin Fairbanks. 
Jonathan Onion, 

These persons included less than one-third of the mem- 
bers of the parish. The first assessment roll, made in the 



28 Tlir. CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

sprinj,^ of 1737, contained forty-three names, as follows: 
Lieut. John Baker, Eliphalet Baker, John Baker, Jr., Tim- 
othy Baker, Jeremiah Baker, Samuel Badcock, Ensign 
Joseph Colburn, Ephraim Colburn, Samuel Colburn, Joseph 
Dean, Antony Dier, Jeremiah Dean, Joseph Ellis, Joriathan 
Ellis, Deacon Joseph Ellis, Aaron Ellis, William Ellis, 
I^benczcr Ellis, Samuel Everet, Daniel Fisher, Widow Han- 
nah l''isher, Benjamin Fairbanks, Nathaniel Gay, Lusher 
Gay, John Gay, Stephen Gay, Daniel Gay, John Gay Tayler, 
Thomas Herring, Samuel Herring, Samuel Haws, John 
Haws, Jr., Ebenezer Lewis, Elisha Pike, John MacNab, 
Deacon Jonathan Onion, Peter Tompson, Jedediah Tucker, 
Lieut. Jabez Pond, Eliphalet Pond, John Richards, Joseph 
Richards, Josiah Whitemore. Within the next ten years 
appeared the names of Kingsbury, Belcher, Campbell, 
Draper, Pilcher, Cheever, Buckmaster, Whiting, and Cham- 
berlain. These names are here spelled as they appear on 
the records of the parish. It may also be added, that the 
names of the first members of the church were preserved 
by Mr. Thacher in connection with his sermon on the his- 
tory of the church and parish published in 1801. 

The records of the parish were written in a simple, direct, 
and manly fashion. The first clerk was an educated man, 
a graduate of Harvard College. He wrote down only 
what was legally the result of each meeting ; but we are 
sometimes able to read between his lines, and to guess at 
more than he directly tells us. As a specimen of his work, 
and as showing just what the records contain, the first two 
or three pages may be transcribed verbatim. The spelling, 
punctuation, and use of capital letters have been carefully 
preserved ; but it ought to be said that the manner of 
writing the names of committees, and other details, make 
the absence of punctuation seem less unfitting on the writ- 
ten than it does on the printed page. 

Dedliam I-'ebniary ye 14th T737. 
Att a I'lecinct Meeting warned as the Law directs The Precinct 
chose Lieut Joiin Baker Moderator Joseph Ricliards Clerk & sworn. 
Joseph Ellis Lieut John Baker Joseph Richards Precinct Comttee. 



REV. JOSIAH DWIGHT, THE FIRST MINISTER 29 

1 It was put to the Precinct whether they would grant Money 
towards finishing their Meeting House, & it passed in the Affirm : 

.2 It was put to the Precinct whether they would grant one Hundred 
and twenty Pounds towards finishing their Meeting House passed in 
the Affirm : 

3 The Precinct chose Lieut. John Baker Lusher Gay Joseph Rich- 
ards a Committee to lay out the above granted Money on ye House. 

Dedham March ye ist. 1737 

Att a Precinct Meeting in the ClapboardTrees warned as the Law 
directs. The Inhabitants Met & chose Lieut. John Baker Moderator 
Joseph Richards Precinct Clerk Joseph Ellis Lieut John Baker Joseph 
Richards Precinct Comttee & Assessors & Sworn as the Law directs 
Joseph Ellis Junr. Precinct Treasurer & Sworn John Richards Precinct 
Collector & Sworn 

1 It was put to the Precinct whether they would buy the House the 
Revd. Mr. Dwight now lives in for a Parrish House it passed in the 
Affirmative. 

2 It was put to the Precinct whether they would grant the Sum of 
one Hundred & ten Pounds for to buy sd House, it passed in the Affirm- 
ative 

3 It was put to the Precinct whether they would choose a Comttee 
to examin Accounts about sd House & lay out sd Money on sd House 
It passed in the Affirmative 

4 Nathl Gay Ensign Joseph Colburn Joseph Richards a Comttee 
chose to examin sd accts & lay out sd Money 

5 It was put to the Precinct if it were their Mind to grant fifteen 
Pounds to pay the Gen : Courts Comttee & buy a Law Book & Precinct 
Book. It passed in the Affirmative 

Dedham June 37th. 1737 

Att a Precinct Meeting in the ClapboardTrees warned according to 
Law: The Inhabitants met & chose Lieut. John Baker Moderator of sd 
Meeting 

1 Tt was put. if it be the Mind of the Precinct to make all the 
Money's granted in sd Precinct by the last years Tax Bill passed in 
the Affirmative 

2 To see if it be the Mind of the Precinct that all the Money's 
granted in sd. Precinct be made in one Rate, passed in Affirm. 

3 To see if it be the Mind of the Precinct to do anyThing towards 
diging a well for the Precinct House passed in the Affirm : 

4 To see if it be the Mind of the Precinct to grant ten Pounds 
towards digging sd well, passed in Affirmative 

5 The Precinct made choise of Deacon Onion to lay out sd ten 



30 



TIIR CLAFROARD TRKES PARISH 



Dedham March 3d. 173^ 
Alt a Precinct Meeting in the ClapboardTree i'recinct warned 
according to Law. The Inhabitants met t*v: chose Lieut. John Baker 
Moderator of sd. Meeting. Joseph Richards Precinct Clerk & sworn 
att the same Time l)y the Moderator of sd. .Meeting Joseph Ellis John 
Baker Joseph Ellis Junr. Comttee. & Assessors & Sworn as the Law 
directs Stephen Cay Collector & sworn att the same Time by the Clerk 
Joseph Kllis Junr. Treasurer. ^: sworn 

Dedham April 17th. 1738 
Att a Precinct Meeting in the ClapboardTree Precinct warned ac- 
cording to Law. The Inhabitants met & chose Lieut. John Baker 
Moderator of sd. Meeting. 

1. It was put; to see if it be the Mind of the Precinct to grant Lib- 
erty to those Inhabitants of sd. Precinct as inclined to build their own 
Pews att tlieir own Cost & Charge, passed in the Afifirmative. 

2. To see if it be the Mind of the Precinct That the Inhabitants of 
sd. Precinct tliat incline to build their own Pews shall make Choise 
of their Place to build upon (successively) beginning with the highest in 
the last single Kate passed in the Affirmative 

3. It was put ; if it be the Mind of the Precinct to grant eighty Pounds 
of Money towards finishing the Precinct Meeting House passed in 

Atiiirmalive. 

Dedham July ye 5th. 1738 
Att a Meeting in the ClapboardTree Precinct warned according to 
Law; The Inhabitants met & chose Lieut. John Baker Moderator of sd 
Meeting. 

1 It was put to see if it be the .Mind of the Precinct that Messr. 
Natll. Colburn Richard Ellis Ebenr. Kingsberry Danll. Draper & Timo- 
thy Draper may vote in any affair relating to Pews, passed in the 
Affirmative. 

2 To see if it be the Mind of the Precinct that the Liberty granted 
to the Inhabitants of this Parrish to build Pews att their own Cost & 
Charge should run to them & their Wives dureing both their natural 
Lives & then to return to the Precinct for regulation, the Precinct first 
paying the Prime Cost to the Heirs of the deceased passed in the 
Affirm : 

3 To see if it be the .Mind of the Precinct to grant twenty Pounds of 
.Money to be atlded to the eighty Pounds' already granted towards finish- 
ing their Meeting House passed in the Affirm : 

4 To see if it be the Mind of the Precinct by vote to make the 
House they now Meet in for publick Worship their own passed in the 
Affirm : 

The first meeting of the parish of which there is a record 
was held Feb. 14, 1737, wlicn the precinct voted to finish 



REV. JOSIAH DWIGHT, THE FIRST MINISTER 3 1 

the meeting-house, which was at this time nothing but a 
frame covered with boards, and without pews. The vote 
with reference to the possession of the meeting-house by the 
parish may refer to the legal action necessary in order to 
secure its ownership by the parish or it may refer to its pur- 
chase from individuals, but probably the former, as there is 
no other mention of the subject and no money was voted for 
buying it. For several years, the meeting-house was a sub- 
ject of much thought and labor to the members of the par- 
ish. What they did is not very interesting in itself, but it 
will help to bring before us one side of the life of that time. 
In April, 1738, it was voted to give the inhabitants the privi- 
lege of building their own pews, the highest bidder having the 
first choice as to locality. This would indicate the democratic 
character of the parish, for in some other parishes at this 
time the people were rigidly seated according to their social 
rank. In September of the same year, they voted to build 
four seats on each side of the meeting-house " for their pres- 
ent use and service," and to build a pair of stairs into the 
gallery. In 1739, it was voted to pay for the pew in which 
Mrs. Dwight sat, and to build a pair of stairs up gallery, and 
lay down the gallery floor, and finish the fore seats all round. 
In 1740, the finishing of the pews and the completion of the 
gallery again claimed much of the attention of the parish 
meeting. 

The land on which the first meeting-house was located 
was given by Joseph Ellis, who lived on the spot where the 
house of Col. James M. Ellis now stands. It was forty-four 
rods in extent, and was surveyed and plotted in 1754. The 
house of Jonathan Onion stood near where the barn of Mr. 
Greenwood Fuller is now located. The meeting-house was 
half way between these two houses, but more to the west, 
on land now occupied by an orchard. On his first coming 
to live in the parish, Mr. Dwight occupied a house which 
stood where the house of Greenwood Fuller is now located ; 
and tradition has it that the present house contains a part of 
the old one. At its second meeting, held March 3, 1737, 
the parish voted one hundred and twenty pounds to buy this 



32 TFIE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

for a parish house. At this time or very soon after, ten 
acres of land were bought from Jonathan Onion, which he 
described as " near my own dwelling" on the northerly side of 
the road leading to Pond Plain." He gave one and one-half 
acres to the parish ; one acre each was paid for by Joseph 
Kllis, Thomas Herring, Daniel Fisher, Nathaniel Gay, 
Lusiier Gay, John Gay, Jr., Benjamin P^airbanks, and John 
Richards ; one-quarter of an acre by Joseph Ellis, Jr. ; and 
ten rods each by Dr. Joseph Richards, Timothy Richards, 
Samuel Richards, Josiah Dwight, and Michael Dwight.* 
The house was located on the southerly side of this land. 
The plot made of this piece of land at the time still exists 
among the parish papers, and has been reproduced in fac- 
simile for this work, but somewhat reduced in size. In 
1740, the land was fenced by the parish. 

The first minister, Josiah Dwight, was born in Dedham, 
P'eb. 8, 1670, and was over sixty-four years of age when he 
began his work in the i)arish. His father was Capt. Timo- 
thy Dwight, who was one of the leading men of the town, of 
the second generation. He was born in England, and came 
to Dedham with his father, John Dwight, when a boy. He 
was for ten years town clerk, twenty-five years selectman, 
and in the General Court for two years. He was a man of 
great energy and influence. Four of his sons, Nathaniel, 
Josiah, Henry, and Michael, have had long lines of descend- 
ants, who are found in every part of the country, and in 
places of responsibility and trust. The many professors, 
teachers, clergymen, and authors of the Dwight name are 
the descendants of Nathaniel and Henry. 

The eighth child of Capt. Timothy Dwight, there being 
fourteen in all, received his early education at home, gradu- 
ated from Harv^ard in 1687, obtaining his second degree in 
1720. In the summer of 1690, he was installed as the first 
minister of Woodstock, Conn., that town being owned by 
Roxbury and under Massachusetts laws. The town was a 
new one, the people not numerous or wealthy. A church 

•This was a brother of the Rev. Ji.si.ih Dwight, being the son of Capt. Timothy Dwight 
by his third wife. 



REV. JOSIAH DWIGHT, THE FIRST MINISTER 33 

was built in 1699, but his salary was small and not 
promptly paid. He was paid his salary partly in land, which 
he cultivated, and thus gave offence to some of his parish. 
He was sometimes hasty in speech, and did not always 
refrain from using sharp words ; and a gradual feeling of 
opposition to him was developed. He was voted more sal- 
ary in 1730, and it was hinted to him that he should give 
more time to his parish. Some years of bitter contention 
followed, and then he asked to be dismissed. At a town 
meeting in 1726, he acknowledged his faults, and promised 
to amend them ; but the town voted, sixty to one, and one 
neutral, that his labors would not be any longer to the profit 
of the people. In September, 1726, he was dismissed, after 
a pastorate of more than thirty-six years. He then went to 
live in Thompson, Conn. The neighboring churches, believ- 
ing he had not been justly dealt with, took up his cause and 
called a council ; none of the charges against him were 
proven. He admitted rashness of speech and want of meek- 
ness in some cases, but this seems to have been the extent 
of his errors. 

After leaving the Clapboard Trees, at the age of seventy- 
two, Mr. Dwight returned to Thompson, where he died in 
1748, at the age of seventy -seven; His son-in-law, the Rev. 
Marston Cabot, was the minister in Thompson ; and in his 
genial society the last days of Mr. Dwight were cheerfully 
spent. He was a man of a positive character, much energy 
of will, a good preacher, and somewhat singular in manner. 
He was not always wise and discreet, used too sharp a 
tongue, and was inclined to contend for his own rights. 
Mr. Thacher said that he " was supposed by his contempo- 
raries to be a man of good natural abilities and considerable 
acquirements in ancient learning. He was well versed in 
old school divinity, and was respected by the more enlight- 
ened, as a scholar and a gentleman. Though a man of piety 
and virtue, he was singular in his manners. His peculi- 
arities increased in his old age." 

Mr. Dwight married Mary Partridge in 1695. She was 
the daughter of Col. Samuel Partridge, of Hadley ; and his 



34 



THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 



brother Nathaniel, who settled in Northampton, married her 
sister Mehitable. He had thirteen children,— Anna, John, 
Ruth, Dorothy, Flint, Mehitable, Eunice, Mary, Elizabeth, 
Theodore, and three who died young. Only his younger 
children could have accompanied him to the Clapboard 
Trees in 1730, and possibly none but Elizabeth and Theo- 
dore. Elizabeth married Jeremiah Baker, and lived on Fox 
Hill until her death. Theodore died unmarried at the age 
of thirty- two. 

The genealogy of the Dwight family has been very fully 
gi\en in The History of the Descendants of John Dzoight, of 
DedJtani, Mass., a work written by Benjamin W. Dwight, 
and published in 1874. It is in two large volumes, of over 
five hundred pages each. Forty-two pages of this work are 
devoted to the Rev. Josiah Dwight and his descendants. 
There is also a sketch of his life in the third volume of 
Sibley's Harvard Graduates. 

About the year 1725 there was a considerable agitation 
in the churches in regard to the methods of singing. The 
old method of "lining out" hymns was discarded by some, 
and it was proposed to give to the art of singing more of 
expression. On this subject, Mr. Dwight preached a ser- 
mon, which was afterward printed, and with a title-page 
worded as follows: "An Essay to Silence the Ontcry that 
has been made in some Places against Regular Singing in 
A Sermon Preach'd at ipramiugljam. By the Reverend 
Mr. Josiah Dtvight, Pastor of the Church of Christ in 
Woodstock. Boston : Printed for John Eliot^ and Sold at 
his Shop at the South-End of the Town. 1725." The 
text was from Acts .xvii., 6, — " These that have turned the 
world upside down are come here also." 

Mr. Dwight began bis sermon with a consideration of how 
new things may be misunderstood, and how they may be 
thought to be turning the world upside down, when, in real- 
ity, their effect is wholly good. He then spoke of singing 
as a natural gift, and of the pleasure it gives when rightly 
used. To him, it was a good gift of the Father, to be culti- 
vated and enjoyed. Then he proceeded to answer the objec- 



REV. JOS I AH DWIGIIT, THE FIRST MINISTER 35 

tions raised against the proposed reform. He said that the 
elderly should give up the old way, if the new one elevates 
the spirit of worship. To those who said that the rejection 
of the old way would be a condemnation of the fathers, he 
said: "And I see not but some congregations, and sundry 
in many more, are to be blamed for their ignorance and 
heedlessness about the tunes, that may be can't distin- 
guish one tune from another when sung, and slide out of 
one tune into another, and do not mind it, or sing the lines 
of several tunes for one, when a little care and study would 
have saved the disorder. Therefore I would propose, that 
there might be many advantages attending a practice which 
I could wish all our congregations were come into, viz., 
to name the tune together with the psalm, and all the skill- 
ful of the congregation be sure to fall in with the first note 
and syllable ; nor is this a bare proposal without experiment, 
for some of us have been some time in proof hereof, and see 
its expediency." He said that the new way is singing in 
the spirit as much as the old way was, that the disturbance 
of regular singing was only incidental, that it is approved 
by Scripture as much as the old way, and that it is a help in 
promoting piety and devotion. 

The references to Mr. D wight in the parish records are of 
a business character, for the most part. After the purchase 
of the house he lived in, the next mention of him was in 
connection with the digging of a well at the parsonage. 
This not having been done, at the next meeting it was 
voted to do something farther towards digging a well for 
the Rev. Mr. Dwight, "and also to build him a little gate." 
His salary was one hundred pounds a year, with firewood. 
In 1742, his salary was voted; but no firewood was allowed 
him. At a meeting held November 12 of that year, the 
question was raised of getting another minister; but the 
proposition was voted down. The difficulties, whatever 
they were, increased as the months went by ; and March 
16, 1743, it was voted "to settle another minister agreeable 
with the consent of their Revd. Pastor." 

At a meeting held April 13, it was discussed whether 



36 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

"the Precinct would have preaching among themselves," 
while only twenty-five pounds were voted for that purpose. 
A special meeting was held May 20, to act upon a communi- 
cation sent to the church by Mr. Dwight. At this meeting, 

It was put: to see if it be the Mind of the Precinct to make the 
Revd. Dwight a generous Grant of fifty Pounds old Tenour on Condition 
he quits the pastoral Office among us & is dismissed by his consent att 
a Chh meeting. 

This motion was carried in the affirmative ; but John 
Richards, John Gay, Peter Thompson, and William Ellis 
entered their dissent against the vote. The communication 
from Mr. Dwight was in these words, the spelling of the 
records being retained : — 

To the Chh of Christ att the Clapl:)oard Trees in Dedham : 

Hond & beloved, 

Tis well known to all the World, you settled me in this Place with 
the utmost Chearfulness & Pleasure ; and for Years together spake of 
my ."Ministerial Labors as Superior to those of any ClergyMan round 
about : and as to my Carriage among you, I am conscious to myself, it 
has been universally & entirely innocent. However, as there is a Fire 
of Contention kindled among us, which it seems, cannot be extinguised 
but by my Departure, I consent, from a Regard to the Glory of God & 
your Welfare, to quit the pastoral Office among you, upon your regular 
Dismission of me att a Chh Meeting; and upon the following Condi- 
tion, namely ; That you make me a generous Present of fifty Pounds old 
Tenour ; & in Token of hearty Love and Regards, a Select Number 
of you accompany me & my Family to Thompson, when I am ready 
to remove 

I am, Gentlemen 

Your very humble -Servant 



^>cr/!ci^ ^(^'uf-f^^-t. 



DiiDiiAM May 16th 1743. 

Mr. Dwight was dismissed according to his request, but 
whether the "select number" of the parish accompanied 
him to Woodstock the records do not indicate. 

The first parish tax was levied on fifty persons, one of 



REV. JOSIAH DWIGHT, THE FIRST MINISTER 3/ 

them being a widow. In 1765 there were forty-two houses 
in the parish and three hundred and thirteen inhabitants. 
The people were nearly all farmers, lived very simply, and 
enjoyed life under humble circumstances. The first clerk of 
the parish, Joseph Richards, was a physician, " eminent in 
his profession " according to Mr. Thacher, and he was a 
justice of the peace, a colonel of militia, and a member of 
the House of Representatives for six years in succession, 
from 1744-50. He was born Feb. 25, 1701, graduated at 
Harvard College in 1721, and died April 18, 1761, "leaving 
behind him a very amiable and honorable name." The 
Lieut. John Baker, who was the moderator at all the parish 
meetings for the first two years, was probably the John 
Baker who lived on Fox Hill, and whose father settled the 
farm now occupied by W. E. Chad wick, about the year 1670. 
The second John was born in 1677, married Sarah Whiting 
in 1 70 1, and died in 1768. His youngest son married the 
youngest daughter of the Rev. Josiah Dwight. This farm 
was ^ owned by the Baker family for nearly two hundred 
years. Deacon Joseph Ellis obtained license " to keep 
tavern " July 28, 1732; and his tavern contained one room 
on the first floor and one sleeping room above. It was 
situated near the meeting-house, probably. Much that 
seems necessary to our life was then wanting. The books 
were few and poor. There were no daily newspapers, and 
the few issued weekly were not much worth the reading. 
About this time was introduced the custom of singing the 
hymn through without its being "lined out" by the dea- 
cons. In 1 75 1, the first church gave up the use of the 
New England Psalms, and adopted the hymns of Tate and 
Brady. Even then, the old things were being left behind, 
and innovations were being introduced ; but these incidents 
show how simple was the life of that time. 

In his History of Dcdham, Worthington speaks of this 
period as one of great disorder and ignorance. He says 
the schools were at their lowest stage, and that "few could 
have had any instruction." He mentions the fact, as an in- 
dication of the ignorance of the people at about this time, 



■?,S Till (I M'r.oAKi) tr|':es parish 

tlKit the town records were poorly kept. The penmanship 
was poor, the spellini;- antiquated, and the grammar not 
correct. In the second parish (South Dedham, now Nor- 
wood), in all these respects the records show an absence of 
education. As a specimen of the spelling, the word oatJior- 
docts will suffice. In the Clapboard Trees parish, however, 
the records were well kept, and in a manner superior to 
those of the town or the first and second parishes. The 
penmanship was excellent, the language good, and the spell- 
ing fairly modern. The old spelling and the use of contrac- 
tions were not so common as in the town and first and sec- 
ond parish records. 

On the 26th of February, 1809, the last sermon was 
preached in the first meeting-house of the parish, by Mr, 
Thacher, the minister at that time. In that sermon, he 
described the men who built it, and with that knowledge of 
them which came to him from their sons. No better tribute 
can be paid to their memory than that which he then of- 
fered : " Instead of dwelling in ceiled houses painted with 
Vermillion, while the house of God lay waste, the first 
settlers of this precinct were content with cottages of the 
most simple construction, with food of the coarsest nature, 
and with the i)lainest dress, that they might obtain a conven- 
ient and decent habitation for the King of Heaven, and 
might perpetuate the rituals of Christianity according to the 
Scripture. They were willing to travel through the world 
like pilgrims and strangers, that they might prove their 
regard to the Gospel, and their promptness to suffer for the 
cause of Christ. Was not this spirit exemplified in rearing 
this house where we now stand } This was the work of 
a few unincorporated individuals, bound to each other by 
no other law than zeal and love. 



IV. 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER. 

The period from 1740 to 1780 was one of great impor- 
tance in the history of our country. The colonists were 
learning to associate together for common protection and 
benefit, and they were being gradually trained for the com- 
ing struggle for independence. The struggle for supremacy 
in America between France and England went on during 
this time, resulting in victory for England ; and this was 
but the prelude to the Revolution, which soon followed. 

We turn from these events of the forming of a nation, to 
see how the people lived who were learning the worth of 
liberty, and how to gain it. In our study of the great events 
of history, we are apt to forget the homely details of every- 
day life, which make it possible for men to prize truth and to 
struggle for it. On the other hand, in considering the his- 
tory of a town or parish, we must constantly keep in mind 
the larger events of the outside world, or we shall fail to see 
a cause for much that men do and think. The Clapboard 
Trees parish was not long without a minister after the 
departure of Mr. Dwight. On the 5th of Oct., 1743, only 
three months after Mr. Dwight had left, the parish " pro- 
ceeded "to the choice of a minister to settle among them, 
and when the votes were counted, the Revd. Mr. Andrew 
Tyler was chose by a great majority." Then it was voted 
to give him " and his heirs forever the precinct house, with 
four acres of land, to encourage him to settle among us." 
This was in accordance with an almost universal custom of 
that day, which made it necessary that a parish should pro- 
vide a minister with a home or a considerable estate on his 
settlement. He was expected to live in the parish all his 
life, and, once settled, to remain until his death. Sometimes 










/ 



9Ca4idfm^ ax/res afS^ nni>i ^ A^uje ^ , 



^^inM^3rf^\ 



/ Cfi^-v-c^ 1f<^ 



• t*^ 







9-^^.^ '2-^' 






y , . i^i<-'^y" - ^ 



"-^ 



I'LOT OF THE LAND CIVEN MR. TVI.F.K. 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 4I 

money was given him, sometimes land, and sometimes a 
house. For the first year, Mr. Tyler was granted " one hun- 
dred and sixty pounds a year old tenor for his salary, and 
the improvement of the remainder of the precinct lands, as 
long as he is our minister." At a meeting of the parish, 
held October 31, it was voted to give Mr. Tyler twenty-five 
cords of wood after the first three years. This, also, was in 
accordance with a custom of the time, — that the minister was 
to be provided with his firewood ; and always the wood was 
furnished or its equivalent in money given. It is probable 
that this custom was the result of the poverty of the people 
in the colonies and the simplicity of their life. They had 
plenty of wood, but little money ; and it was easier for them 
to cut the minister's wood for him than to ":ive him a larsrer 
salary. 

A few days after being invited to settle with the parish, 
Mr. Tyler sent his letter of acceptance. It is an interesting 
illustration of the ministerial mind of that period, and is 
almost ludicrous in its mixture of piety and thrift. It was 
incumbent on Mr. Tyler, as a minister, to make a great use 
of religious phrases, and they were probably sincere in his 
case ; but he mixed with them a careful consideration of the 
worldly advantages to be obtained from his situation. 

Boston, Octbr. 22d. 1743. 

To the Chh & Congregation belonging to the Clapboard Tree Parish in 
Dedham, to be communicated. 

Dear Brethren : 

When I consider the work of the Ministry, & take a 
View of the many Difficulties that attend it, and att the same Time see 
my own insufficiency for the right Discharge of such an important 
Trust, and consider of that most dreadful Curs with which they are 
threatned who do the Work of the Lord negligently, I am almost ready 
to give up all Thoughts of entering upon that Business — tho' noble and 
excellent in it Self. And, indeed, I should be quite discouraged were 
there not many gracious Promises made to such as are really desirous 
of being faithfull & successful in the Work of the Lord. But when I 
tako a View of that gracious Promise of our ascended Saviour to his 
Disciples & so to his Ministers in all Ages, Lo, I am with you alway, 
even unto the End of the World. This much encoura<xes me in En- 



42 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

gaging in this noble Emi)loy; an Emi)loyment which there is not an 
Angel in Heaven but would clap his Wings for Joy to be engaged in. 
But when I look furthur into the future & eternal State, & meditate 
upon that Glory which is promised to the faithful Ministers of Christ, 
They that be wise shall shine as the Brightness of the Firmament, & 
they that turn many to Righteousness as the Starrs forever & ever. 
These considerations seem to drive all my Fears away ; & animate & 
encourage me to a Performance of that difficult Office. My Brethren, 
I hope when I first devoted myself to the Service of God in the Min- 
istry, the Motives which induced me were a Sincere Desire of bring- 
ing Glory to my God & l^eing an Instrument in the Hand of God of 
bringing many Souls to Glory. And as I hope these were my Views 
att first, so I humbly trust I act from the same now. And that my ear- 
nest Desire of God's Glory being advanced, & Happiness of precious 
Souls being promoted is as great if not greater than ever. And now, as 
God, in whose Hands are the Hearts of all Men, has been pleased in his 
holy & wise Providence to incline you to make Choice of me, his most 
unWorthy Servant, to be your Pastor, & has so greatly united you in 
your Choice of me, I can't but take Notice of the Hand of God in it, 
especially when so many other Churches are torn with (Quarrels & Dis- 
putes; and have, I hope, thought seriously upon your Invitation & the 
Offers you have made me for my Maintenace. I have advised with my 
Friends, who, I trust, have the Interest of our Lord Jesus & his Religion 
att Heart; and, as I hope & trust, have been careful in committing my 
Cause into his Hands who is infinite in Wisdom, beging of him all that 
Light & Direction I stood in need of in acting worthy of such an im- 
portant Affair. I came upon the whole to this Conclusion, that I would 
accept of your Invitation & do now declare my Acceptance of it, hoping 
and expecting that from Time to Time you will make such Additions to 
what you now offer me as may serve to maintain me comfortably & hand- 
somely so long as God in his holy & wise Providence shall continue me 
among you. And also that you pass a vote that you will find me my 
Wood, after three years from this Time. And these Things, my Breth- 
ren, are so reasonable in themselves, & I make no Manner of Doubt, 
appear so reasonable to you, that I need not use one Argument to per- 
suade you that they are so. And now here upon, my dear Brethren, I 
devote myself to the Service of God. I offer myself to you to spend & 
be spent in your Souls Service. And O my Brethren, pray for me. I 
am but young & unexperienced & need your fervent Prayers to God for 
me that I may be found faithful to God & your Souls, least after I have 
preached to others I be a castaway myself. I consider the important 
& weighty Charge I am about to undertake, & let this stir up the Gift 
of Prayer in you & your spirits of Prayer. And I, that God would 
make me a great Blessing to you, & you to me, and many of you be 
Seals of my Ministry for my Comfort here & Crown of rejoicing in the 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 43 

great Day & forever in Heaven ; & when God shall right up the People 
may it be said that such & such were born to God here. And when he 
shall make up his Jewels may you & I be found of that blessed Number 
in whom the Riches of free Grace shall be admired & magnified forever 
& ever, and who shall Joyn the Angels & Saints above in the Hallelujahs 
of that Temple above not made with Hands where his Worship is pure 
unmixed & eternal. Amen & amen. 

Your Servt. in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, 





Mr. Tyler was ordained Nov. 30, 1743, and on the same 
day was admitted a member of the" church by a letter of 
recommendation from the Brattle Street Church in Boston. 
The churches in Brattle Street,' Boston, Medfield, Natick, 
Milton, Hingham, the first in Dedham, and the second in 
Roxbury were invited to join in the ordination. The prayer 
was made by the Rev. Dr. Gay, of Hingham. The sermon 
was preached from Revelation vi., 2, by the Rev. Mr. 
Cooper, of Boston. The charge was by the Rev. Mr. Baxter, 
of Medfield, and the right hand of fellowship by the Rev. 
Samuel Dexter, of Dedham. 

Mr. Tyler was born in Boston, Aug. 20, 17 19, the son of 
Andrew Tyler, Esq., of that city. He graduated at Harvard 
in 1738; and he died in Boston, May 3, 1775. His zeal for 
the royal cause, when the colonists were beginning to agitate 
for liberty, was the original cause of his trouble with his 
parishioners in later years. He married, March 20, 1745-46, 
on her sixteenth birthday, Mary Richards, daughter of Dr. 
Joseph Richards, first clerk of the parish. They had nine 
sons, — Andrew, Joseph, William, Pepperell, George, Belcher, 
John, David, and one whose name is not known. 

Two of Mr. Tyler's sermons were printed in 1756; and 
they were preached February 8 and 15, "at Dedham, 2d 
parish." They were published at the desire of the hearers. 



44 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

and were on "The Terms of Christianity briefly Considered, 
and the Reasonableness of them Illustrated." The second 
sermon was a continuation of the first ; and they were printed 
together in Boston by Edes & Gill, " at their printing-office 
next to the Prison, in Queen Street." The text for both 
sermons was Luke xiv., 26 : " If any man come to me, and 
hate not his father and mother and wife and children and 
sisters, yea, and his own life also, lie cannot be my disciple." 

Each of the two sermons concludes with a " short im- 
provement." That to the first one is in three parts, in the 
first of which he said that we may judge of our religion, as 
to its worth and sincerity, by our comparative subordination 
of everything to Christ. " Let us be cautioned," he says in 
the second part, "against imagining that an unkind, morose 
Behavior towards our fellow Men, and especially our near 
and dear Relatives, is any part of the Religion of Jesus 
Christ." In the third part, he said : "Let us be e.xhorted to 
think seriously upon the Nature of the Religion of Jesus 
Christ, and make it our principal Care to get our Affections 
disengaged from all earthly Enjoyments, and place them 
principally upon our God, and Redeemer." 

The second sermon is an attempt to show the reasonable- 
ness of the conditions of salvation as they are presented by 
Christianity. They both are strong, well-reasoned sermons, 
calculated to make an impression on a congregation, as they 
evidently did. They indicate that the preacher was a man 
of fair ability, and that he was inclined, according to the 
fashion of the day, to give to Christianity a somewhat prac- 
tical interpretation. 

The parish records contain little more tlian the votes 
passed at the meetings held from time to time, but they 
give us hints here and there of what men were doing and 
thinking. At the meeting when the date of Mr. Tyler's 
ordination was fixed upon, Joseph Ellis, Nathaniel Colburn, 
and Ebenezer Kingsbury were appointed a committee to 
provide suitable entertainment for the ministers and mes- 
sengers; and seven pounds new tenor or twenty-eight 
pounds old tenor were voted for this purpose. A dinner 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 45 

and plenty of rum were provided for the ordination, without 
doubt, as that was the custom of the time. At the parish 
meeting the next year, it was voted to give Mr. Tyler the 
loose money put into the contribution box, which was also 
a custom in most of the churches. The salary was small, 
and it was added to in this way by the free-will offerings of 
the people. Mr. Tyler's salary was from sixty to eighty 
pounds, which was a small sum, owing to the financial de- 
pression of that period and the want of a stable currency. 
When the loose money was voted to the minister, it was 
also decided " to make two lights below the girt, one on 
each side of the desk in the pulpit." It will be seen by this 
that the work of completing the church was still going on. 
In 1745, it was decided to lath and plaster the meeting- 
house above the gallery floor and overhead the minister's 
pew, and also to furnish the side galleries with pews. The 
granting of money for this work was deferred, however, to 
another meeting, the pressure of the war with the French 
probably being felt. At this meeting, liberty was given for 
any one to build horse stables on the bounds or outsides 
of their lands near the meeting-house. It would seem that 
Mr. Tyler was the owner of a slave whose name was Weston, 
and who swept and took the care of the meeting-house from 
1748 to 1756. The treasurer's book in 1754 had this entry : 
" Paid to Westown negro to Mr. Tyler six shillings, it being 
for taking care of ye meeting house in ye year 1753." A 
few years later, one of Mr. Tyler's sons performed the same 
service. 

One of the difliculties of the time of the French wars is 
to be seen on the pages of the record. In 1746 it was voted 
to give Mr. Tyler " a free gift of forty pounds old tenor on 
consideration of the scarcity and uncommon price of the 
necessarys of life," and in 1747 he was granted one hundred 
and forty pounds old tenor "on account of the great rise of 
the necessarys of life." For the same cause, his salary in 
1748 was three hundred and fifty pounds, and four hundred 
in 1749. A part of this rise in prices was doubtless due to 
the unreliable financial methods of the colonies and to the 



46 THE CLAPI50ARD TREES PARISH 

(lei)i'cciation in the currency. In 1750, his salary came back 
to a normal basis, and was sixty pounds thirteen shillings 
and fourpence. He was allowed seven pounds six shillings 
and eightpence for firewood. This remained his salary for 
several years; but in 1762 it was raised to eighty pounds, 
while ten pounds were allowed for firewood. 

The controversy about the parish lines between the Clap- 
board Trees and the other parishes in the town was contin- 
ued for many years, and on several occasions that subject 
was discussed in the parish meetings or referred to commit- 
tees for adjustment. A difficulty with the first parish about 
lands also excited attention. In 1758, the parish meeting 
chose " Thirteen men to Over See ye Boys on Sabath 
Days " ; and this committee was renewed the following 
year. 

For about twenty years, the ministry of Mr. Tyler was 
successful, and he was popular with his people. After 
that time there were causes of dissatisfaction on the part 
of the congregation, which gathered force for a few years, 
and then found expression at a parish meeting held Feb. 7, 

1769. At that time, a petition was presented, requesting a 
committee to wait on Mr. Tyler, and ask him on what terms 
he would give up his pastoral connection. At the meet- 
ing held the 20th of March, the committee reported that 
Mr. Tyler had no terms to offer. No salary was granted at 
this meeting, and such was the action at meetings held in 
June, September, and November. At a meeting in January, 

1770, it was decided to ask the church to join in calling an 
ecclesiastical council " to give their judgment and advice" 
in regard to the difficulty, which by this time had grown to 
large proportions. In a communication addressed by this 
meeting to the church, the members of the parish say : 
" You cannot be insensible that the animosities among us 
are great and melancholy, and attended with many great 
and unspeakable disadvantages." At the March meeting, 
Mr. Tyler was voted his salary for the previous year; but the 
sum was reduced to forty pounds. At the March meeting 
of 1 77 1 there was still a refusal to grant a salary; but a 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 47 

committee, consisting" of Capt. Daniel Gay,' Deacon Joseph 
Ellis, and Isaac Whiting, was appointed " to prepare reasons 
to be entered on record to justify the parish in neglecting 
to grant a salary for the support of the Reverend Andrew 
Tyler." This committee made a well-written statement of 
the grievances of the parish, which was adopted by the 
meeting. That they should have carried their action so far 
as to prepare such a statement can be understood only 
when we remember that the settlement of a minister was 
then a process having a legal significance, and that the 
minister could hold his place until death, unless the proper 
means were taken to dispossess him of it. Had it not been 
for this feeling of the binding connection of minister and 
parish, which was carefully protected by the laws, it is prob- 
able Mr. Tyler would have given up his position long before 
he did. This necessity of resorting to harsh means, to 
get rid of a man they had ceased to have confidence in, is 
seen throughout the report of the committee, in the spirit 
which breathed through it : — 

The Committee appointed to prepare Reasons to be entered on 
Record, to justify the Conduct of the Parish in neglecting to grant a 
Salary for the Support of the reverend Mr Tyler, have attended that 
Service, and beg Leave to report the following Draft ; which is humbly 
submitted. 

The Committee find that the Laws of the Province require that a 
Minister should be learned, orthodox^ able, pious, and of good Conve7'sa- 
tiou — and that when a Minister, qtialified as above said, is not suitably 
encouraged, supported or maintained, he may have his Remedy by a 
legal Process. But your Committee are humbly of Opinion that the 
Minister of this Parish is very deficient with respect to some of these 
Qualifications. 

As to his Learning, the Committee, not being competent Judges 
themselves, can only say, that they know some Men of Learning have 
given Intimations that he was reckoned, when at College, but a very 
indifferent Scholar — and that Ministers in general are looked upon to 
be much Superior to him in that Respect, by those who are able to 
form a proper Judgment. 

As to his Orthodoxy, the Parish have never made any public Com- 
plaint, and therefore the Committee do not think themselves authorized 
to make any Observations in regard to that Particular. 

As to his Ability, (which we take not to imply precisely the same as 



48 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

Learning^ if by that is meant what in Scripture is meant, by an able 
Minister of the New Testament — apt to teach — one who allwavs feeds 
his People with Knowledge and Understanding — one thoroughly fur- 
nished for the good Work of the Ministry — able to convince Gain- 
sayers — who can comfort as well as reprove — one who is able to 
govern his own Temper, so as to bear with the Infirmities of others, and 
to be patient towards all Men — a Workman who needeth not to be 
ashamed — one who knows how carefully to avoid such Things as _^^«- 

der Strife, and which tend to subvert the Hearers If all this is 

meant, in the Law, by a Minister's being a Man of Ability, then Mr 
Tyler, as the Committee humbly conceive, is much deficient as to this 
Article. 

But what is most exceptionable in Mr Tyler's Character is, that he 
does not appear to be a Man of that Piety and Good Conversation, which 
the Laws of the Province, as well as the Laws of Christ require. The 
Committee join Piety and a Good Conversation together, because they 
think that where the former is the latter will never be wanting. 

With respect to his Conversation they are bound to mention, his 
many rash and unguarded Expressions, from Time to Time uttered, 
which it would be tedious to enumerate ; and the repeated Instances 
of his not paying that Regard to Truth which every Christian ought 
to do. 

Mr Tyler has, in the Opinion of the Committee, since the Commence- 
ment of our present Difficulties; handled the Word of God deceitfully, 
in order to level his Artillery against those with whom he has been 
offended — He has been noisy, boisterous and turbulent, and has not 
observed the Direction to the Servant of the Lord, not to Strive. — He 
has not exhorted with Longsuffering, Gentleness and Meekness of 
Wisdom. 

In dispensing the Discipline of the Church, the Committee apprehend, 
he has acted partially and through Prejudice. — They also think his gen- 
eral Conduct has shown that he has been lifted up with Pride — That 
he has been far from exhibiting a Pattern of good Works, and has not 
been careful, as a Minister ought to be, not to give offence ; and conse- 
quently has not been an Example to the People in Conversation and 
in Charity — and if he has known the State of Christ's Flock, yet he 
has not adapted his Behaviour and public Performances thereto ; but 
has, by a haughty and overbearing Carriage, increased the Uneasinesses 
that have subsisted among us, which, had it not been his own Fault, 
might long ago have been happily accomodated; but now, alas! are 
past Remedy but by a Seperation. 

For the aforementioned Reasons, & others that might be enumer- 
ated, the Committee are humbly of Opinion, that the Parish are not in 
Duty bound to grant Mr Tyler any further Means of Support — and 
they are encouraged to hope that if he should ever make Application 



i 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 49 

therefor by a Process in Law, the Honorable Court will be of the Same 

Mind. 

Daniel Gay, ') 

Joseph Ellis, > Committee. 

Isaac Whiting,) 

Dedham Third Parish 
March 25th 1771 



This committee was composed of the best men in the par- 
ish. Joseph ElHs had been a deacon of the church since its 
first organization, being now an old man. He had been a 
representative in 175 1, and again in 1758-59. Isaac Whit- 
ing had recently served as the clerk of the parish for ten 
years. He had also been town clerk, serving in that capac- 
ity from 1769 to 1773; and he was elected a selectman in 
1753, holding that office for tw^elve years. Daniel Gay had 
been a selectman for three years. 

Mr. Tyler seems to have been as unwilling to leave the 
parish as some of his parishioners were anxious to have him 
go. At a parish meeting held in December, 1771, he was 
voted one hundred and eighty pounds, on condition that the 
parish was discharged from any farther requirements in re- 
gard to his support. Mr. Tyler communicated to the parish 
his own views of the situation, under date of Jan. i. 1772, 
in reply to this action of the parish, which was presented 
at a meeting held the same date : — 

I have taken your proposals into as mature consideration as the short 
time you have adjourned your parish meeting to, and my other engage- 
ments, would permit. And upon the whole, I can hardly suppose you 
yourselves can think what you have offered to be an adequate considera- 
tion even for past services and wood, especially considering the great 
disadvantages to which you must needs think I have been subjected by 
your neglect of voting my supply from year to year for three years past. 
Nor can I think I should be just to myself or to other persons of my 
order, even of ages yet unborn, should I, without any further considera- 
tion, give up the just claims I might have also upon you for future ser- 
vices, should it please God to spare my life to minister in the place to 
which in his providence he hath called me, more especially since, after 
all the "fiery tryals " some of your number have caused me to pass 
through, there has not been found "matter of occasion" against me in 
the opinion of judges of your own selection, and whose judgment or 



50 THK C [.A ABOARD TREES I'ARISH 

result this church of Christ expressed their high approbation of (if I 
mistake not) by a unanimous vote of thanks. 

But, gentlemen, if you prize your freedom from the obligations you 
are under to me so far as to purchase it at an honorable rate, I am 
ready, for your gratification, to take the matter into serious considera- 
tion, and shall give 30U in a very short time, an answer thereon. 

The parish charged a committee to ascertain his terms ; 
and his reply was read at a meeting held January 15, in 
which he said, "The proposals you have made appear to me 
so far short of what is right and just that, until your senti- 
ments are greatly altered, I apprehend there is no expedi- 
ence in my suggesting anything further to you on the sub- 
ject." Another committee was chosen to wait on him, and 
to the meeting held on the 29th he sent this communica- 
tion : — 

As I devoted myself in my early days to the virork of the gospel min- 
istry in this place, and for the sake, I trust, of promoting the Redeemer's 
kingdom, and the best interests of your immortal souls; and, having 
obtained help from God, continue to this day to minister to you in holy 
things, so I apprehend I should have very satisfactory reasons before I 
can see it my duty to relinquish my pastoral office among you. 

In an affair which not only relates to my own person and family, but 
the interests of these churches, I desire to act with all deliberation. 
I am fully of the mind, that till you make proposals much superior 
to what you have done, I should dishonor God and the interests of relig- 
ion, by complying with those you have already made ; but when I am 
enabled to quit my pastoral care of the flock of Christ in this place on 
terms honorable -to myself, and just to my family, and consistent with 
the honor of God and these churches, I am willing to do it. 

Whatever terms shall be properly proposed by you to me, I will take 
them into my serious and deliberate consideration, and shall be willing 
on so interesting an affair to advise with gentlemen that I have reason 
to think are wise, upright and judicious, and wish well to you as well as 
myself and the interests of our holy religion. In a word, things being 
no way prepared for such a reference as you propose, it will be time 
enough to think upon such a proposal when they are. 

It would seem from these letters that Mr. Tyler was in- 
clined to what was fair and right. So far as the trouble can 
now be judged of, he was more nearly in the right than 
those who opposed him. The church was on his side, while 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 5 I 

those members of the parish who were not church members 
included his opponents. When the dispute was left to dis- 
interested men, he received more than double the sum which 
the parish proposed to pay him. 

The controversy went on through the year 1772, the 
parish making offers for a settlement of the question, 
and Mr. Tyler declining them because the parish was not 
liberal enough in its proposals. In October, this article 
was inserted in the warrant calling a special meeting of 
the parish : — 

As Mr. Tyler has, as many apprehend, refused to comply with the 
reasonable request of many members of the church in this place, and 
also refused many fair and generous offers from the parish, and his tarry 
here as a minister is thought to be attended with awful and deplorable 
consequences ; and if it should so happen that the precinct shall not be 
any farther satisfied with the proposals that may be made by Mr. Tyler 
at this meeting, then that the precinct lake the expediency and utility of 
dismissing Mr. Andrew Tyler from his ministerial ofiice among us into 
consideration, and vote on the affair as they shall think proper. 

Acting on this article, the parish proposed to leave the 
dispute to the settlement of three disinterested persons ; 
and, after still farther delays and misunderstandings, this 
proposition was carried into effect. In a communication 
made to the parish Nov. 18, 1772, Mr. Tyler proposed a 
committee to whom the whole controversy should be re- 
ferred, to be mutually chosen by himself and the parish. 
This proposition was accepted ; and the committee chosen 
consisted of the Hon. James Humphrey, the Hon. Samuel 
Danforth, Norton Ouincy, Col. Benjamin Lincoln, Doctor 
Cotton Tufts, Josiah Edson, and Deacon Jabez Fisher, who 
were fully empowered to settle the terms on which the 
difficulty should be adjusted. They met Dec. 12, 1772, 
Mr. Danforth not being present, and after hearing evidence 
decided that the .parish pay Mr. Tyler three hundred and 
ninety-two pounds and sixteen shillings within six months, 
and that Mr. Tyler give a bond of one thousand pounds 
that he would ask dismission within seven days. On the 
17th of December, he sent to the parish a request for dis- 
mission in as brief a note as he could have written. 



52 THE CLAI'nOARI"* TREES PARISH 

Mr. Tyler returned to Boston, where he lived until his 
death in 1775. After his departure, the parish seems to 
have made no immediate effort to secure a minister, a con- 
siderable time being required to pay the large sum awarded 
to Mr. Tyler. Bitter feelings, also, had been stirred up in 
the parish ; and it was not easy to bring the congregation 
again into harmony of action. No money was voted for 
preaching in 1773; but in March, 1774, Deacon Ichabod 
Gay, William Ellis, Jr., and Isaac Whiting were appointed a 
committee "to signify to the second precinct in Dedham, 
if it be their mind, to congregate together for three months 
on Lords Days, from April next, in their meeting house one 
and one in ours successively." There is no intimation in 
the records that this proposed action was carried out. In 
September twenty-five pounds only were voted for preach- 
ing, and at a meeting in December a movement was made 
towards having no preaching for three months in the winter. 
This proposition was voted down ; but those who favored it 
were in the majority at the March meeting of 1775, when 
it was decided to have preaching for only eight months in 
the year, and a committee was appointed to determine which 
those should be. The bad feeling in the parish gradually 
lessened ; and in 1776 the usual amount of money was 
appropriated for preaching, and this was the case until a 
minister was settled in 1779. 

From the treasurer's book, it has been ascertained that 
the pulpit was supplied in 1775 by Benjamin Guild, Mr. 
Coggin, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Haven ; in 1776, 
by Mr. Barnerd, Mr. Adams, Mr. Sanger, Mr. l<:iiot, Mr. 
Chickering, and Samuel Kingsbury; in 1777, by Mr. Hay- 
ward, Mr. Ripley, Mr. Ganet, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Morey ; 
in 1778, by Mr. Thacher, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Daniels, and 
Mr. Balentine ; in 1779, by Mr. Daniels and Mr. Hutchin- 
son. Some of these men preached in more than one year. 
Several of them were neighboring clergymen, while one or 
two of them have become known to fame. The small-po.v, 
in a very destructive form, ravaged the parish in 1775 ; and 
a large number of persons died. This probably added to 
the delav in calling a minister. 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 53 

The parish did not neglect to provide for the education 
of its children. In 171 7, the town voted to have the school 
kept in several localities ; and a committee was appointed to 
determine on them. In 1720, the town school was held 
for six or more weeks of each year near the house of John 
Richards, for six months near the first parish meeting-house, 
and for six weeks near the house of a Mr. Chamberlain. 
It was one of the duties of the selectmen to determine for 
how long a time the school should be kept in each of these 
places, but one master being provided, who at first received 
forty pounds and then sixty pounds tor his services. The 
following is one among many entries on the town records 
in regard to this travelling school, on this occasion the 
subject coming before the town meeting: — 

March 4, 1723. — It was further proposed to the town if it be their 
mind to have the school removed to a place near the house of John 
Richards the months of October, November and December, and near 
the house of John MacNab the months of January, February and 
March. Voted in the affirmative. 

:60th these places were within the limits of the parish 
soon after created, the school being held in the summer 
months near the meeting-house. In 1756, the town voted 
to apportion the school money to each of the parishes. The 
proportion of the west parish was ten pounds nine shillings 
and ninepence. The first mention of schools in the parish 
records was in 1753, when an article was inserted in the 
warrant : — 

4. To act what shall be thought proper respecting the school house 
and schooling in said precinct. 

The parish declined by its vote to take any action, prob- 
ably because it thought this matter properly belonged to 
the town. It would seem, however, by the wording of the 
warrant, that a school-house had been built or that there 
was a proposition to build. Similar action was taken in 
1758, when the warrant asked if an inquiry should be made 
as to how that part of the school money belonging to the 
precinct was laid out. In 1760, an article was in the war- 



54 THE CLAri'.OARD TREES PARISH 

rant "to see if the precinct will lay out part of the school 
money for a woman's school " ; but it was dismissed with 
the article calling for overseers to take care of the boys. 
In 1769, mention is made of a school-house near the house 
of Oliver Holmes ; and this was called the " old school- 
house " in the records. In 1770, it was proposed to divide 
the school money equally between the three school-houses, 
and money was voted to " the proprietors of the new school- 
house near Capt. Daniel Gay's." In 1779 there were four 
schools, as the following action indicates : — 

Voted the school money shall be divided into four parts according to 
what each part pays, in the following manner, viz: the North part, 
including Timothy Baker and Lt. John Richards ; the West part, Timo- 
thy Baker, Jr. and Timothy Bullard ; the South part, Lt. Joseph Ellis 
and Benjamin Fairbanks ; the East part, Nathaniel Fisher and Peletiah 
Herring. 

In 1784, the parish was asked to give liberty to set a 
school-house on land belonging to the parish. Among the 
loose parish papers is one dated 1784, referring to a school 
near the meeting-house ; and those families living in f he 
vicinity opened a school there in that year. This is the 
agreement entered into: — 

Dedham, third precinct, Jan 1 1, 1784. 
We, the subscribers, mutually agree to purchase the house near the 
clapboard tree meeting house for a proprietors school, and to pay the 
sums affixed to our names, and to comply with all such regulations as 
shall be hereafter specified. To this were signed the following names : 
Ichabod Ellis, Theodore Gay, Timothy Smith, Jonathan Onion, Timo- 
thy Baker, Henry Glover, David Ellis, Seth Gay, Eliphalet Baker, David 
Fairbanks, Joseph Gay, Natlianiel Whiting, Samuel Star, Samuel Col- 
burn, Jr., Samuel French. 

In 1786, the following entry was made: "The precincts 
proportion of school money for the year 1785 £'^0 17 3, 
divided as follows : North school, ;^8 3 i ; East school, 
£7 5 5 ; South school, ^8 2 8 ; West school, £6 2 3 ; Ben- 
jamin Fairbanks, £1 3 10." Similar entries were made 
until 1796, when the name of Oliver Ellis appears as a recip- 
ient of a proportion of the school money, the sum of about 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 55 

thirty pounds being annually received from the town by the 
parish during all the later years of the eighteenth century. 
The North School was probably located on Summer Street, 
the West School near the present Baptist church, the South 
School not far from the Union School of to-day, and the East 
School in the neighborhood of the present Fisher School- 
house. For many years, beginning about the end of the 
century, the Bridenno Fund supported a school near the 
meeting-house, which was taught by a woman, in accordance 
with the provision of the will by which it was established. 

In the year 1764, the parish was given a sum equal to 
about one hundred dollars, for the purpose of establishing a 
school near the meeting-house. It is an indication that the 
subject of education had attracted the attention of the peo- 
ple, that this gift should have been made by a woman. As 
a curious expression of the mixture of religious and secular 
thought at that time, a part of the will in which this gift was 
made is worthy of notice : — 

In the name of God, Amen. I, Susanna Bridenno, of Dedham in 
the County of Suffolk, in New England, singlewoman, being very sick 
and weak in body but of a perfect mind and memory, (thanks be given 
unto God!) calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing 
that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last 
will and testament; that is to say, 

Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the 
hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the 
earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my 
executor, nothing doubting but that at the general resurrection I shall 
receive the same again by the mighty power of God ; and, as touching 
such worldly state wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I give, 
demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form : 

Tn primis : All my just debts and funeral charges being well and 
truly paid by my executor, my will is, and I do hereby give and demise 
to the Clapboard Tree precinct in Dedham all my estate that lies in 
money, notes, bonds, and book-debts, excepting the articles hereafter 
mentioned, for the use of the parish forever. The use of said money is 
to be laid out in a woman's school near the meeting house, and the com- 
mittee of said precinct and their successors in said office are to have the 
care of said money and to see that the use of said money be laid out for 
the use above mentioned annually. 



56 THE CLAPBOARD TKEES PARISH 

For a period of thirty or forty years, beginning near the 
end of the last century, a school was kept in the meeting- 
house with the proceeds of this fund. The income from it 
was only seven or eight dollars a year, but with this sum a 
teacher was procured for a period of from three to six weeks 
each summer. This school was taught from 1801 to 18 10 
by Rebecca Ellis, Mary Fairbanks, Sela Baker, Fanny Ellis, 
and Betsy Shepherd. From 181 1 to 1817, the teachers were 
Lydia Newell, Mrs. Mary Colburn, Polly Baker, and Mrs. 
Hannah Richards. From 1S21 to 1828 it was taught by 
Mrs. Delia White, Cornelia S. Dwight, and Deborah Baker ; 
and from 1831 to 1841 the teachers were Rebecca Ellis, 
Elizabeth White, and Mrs. Lydia D. White. The school 
was not opened every year, for the amount of the fund was 
not sufficient to make this possible. For the year 1830, the 
interest was added to the salary of Mr. White. By this 
time there was no longer a need of such a school, and from 
1844 the fund was devoted to providing books for the Sun- 
day-school library. 

During that period in the history of the parish which we 
have now considered, six of its young men graduated from 
Harvard College, — then, as now, a very large proportion of 
a population of less than four hundred. The first of these 
was Ebcnezer Gay,* born in 1718, graduated in 1737, settled 
in Suffield, Conn., in 1742, where he was the minister for 
fifty-four years. He was made a doctor of divinity, and was 
called an "able and learned divine." His brother. Bunker 
Gay, was born in 1735, graduated in 1760, and was settled 
over the church in Hinsdale, N.H., in 1763. In 1793, he 
gave a Thanksgiving sermon in verse, from which these lines 

are taken : — 

Our equal government and laws, 
Thro' the wide world gain vast applause ; 
In almost every foreign nation 
These are preached up for imitation. 

Our guilt, my friends, must be prodigious, 
If freedom, civil and religious, 
And all the blessings it imparts, 
Make no impression on our hearts. 

*See New England Historic-Genealogical Register for Jnnuary, 1871^: "John Gay of 
Dedhani, Mass., and some of his Descendants." 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 57 

Samuel Kingsbury was born in 1736, graduated in 1759, 
and became the minister at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. 
Joshua Fisher was born in 1748, graduated in 1766, and was 
a physician in Ipswich and Beverly. He was on the Ipswich 
Revolutionary Committee of Correspondence, a president of 
the Massachusetts Medical Society, and endowed a profes- 
sorship of Natural History at Harvard. His interest in the 
Clapboard Trees parish continued active throughout his life; 
and he gave the parish three thousand dollars, as well as a 
bell. The next graduate was Phillip Draper, born in 1757, 
graduated in 1780, and was a physician in South Dedham, 
dying in 181 7. His brother, Ichabod Draper, was born in 
1755, graduated in 1783, and was settled in 1785 over a 
church in Amherst. He resigned in 1809, but lived in Am- 
herst until his death in 1827. Caleb Ellis was born in 1767, 
graduated in 1793, and in 1800 settled at Claremont, N.H., 
to the practice of the law. He was a representative, sen- 
ator, and counsellor, a representative in Congress and a 
justice in the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire. 

It was not many years after the separate life of the parish 
began before the people wished to have a place of their own 
for the burial of their dead. In March, 1745, this action 
was taken : — 

It was put: to see if it be the mind of tlie precinct that Joseph Ellis, 
Deacon Ellis & Deacon Onion be a comttee to agree and purchase a 
piece of land of Joseph Colburn Junr. for a burying place for sd pre- 
cinct. Pass : in the affirm : 

The parish records give no evidence that this action was 
carried out. Mr. Locke says that the parish purchased half 
an acre of land of Nathan Kingsbury in 1752 for a burial- 
place ; but it is likely to have been a year or two earlier. 
In March, 1747, this record was made : — 

It was put: to see if it be the mind of the precinct to*grant thirty 
pounds old tenor to buy a burying cloth, and choose a comttee to buy ye 
same. Pass : in affirm: Deacon Jos. Ellis, Nathaniel Colburn, comttee. 

Tradition would have it that the burial-ground was not 
purchased without serious differences of opinion as to the 



58 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

best location. It is said that on one occasion, when Mr. 
Tyler was attempting to reconcile two contending parishion- 
ers, who were engaged in an angry dispute on the subject, 
one of them said, " I'll never be buried in that burying- 
ground as long as I live and breathe." The other replied, 
"Well, if God Almighty spares my life, I will." John 
Buckmaster, who died Jan. 12, 1752, in his seventy-first year, 
was the first person whose body was laid in this burying- 
ground. In 1848, the citizens of the parish erected a mon- 
ument to his memory. The first head-stone erected, that is 
now standing in its place, bore the following inscription : — 

HERE LYE^ 
Y^ BODY OF 
MR^" MARY 
C O L B U R N 
AGED ABOUT 
89 DIED JEN 
30-1752 

In this inscription, the month is indicated by the letters 
JEN, which were probably intended for January. This may 
have been the second interment. There are no quaint or 
curious inscriptions in the burying-ground. The following, 
which appears on several head-stones, and frequently in 
other cemeteries, is to be found over the grave of Ebenezer 
Kingsbury, who died Sept. 3, 1775, aged seventy-two years: 

Behold & see, as You pass by ; 
As You are now, so once was I ; 
As I am now so must You be : 
Prepare for Death & follow me. 

In 1780, the number of families in the parish was seventy- 
one, and the population was less than four hundred. Joseph 
Richards, the first clerk of the parish, was succeeded in that 
office by Isaac Whiting, who held the position from 1756 to 
1766. Deacon Ichabod Gay was the clerk of the parish 
from 1767 to 1793. He was succeeded in 1794 by Nathaniel 
Kingsbury, who held the office until 1798. In 1799 and the 
succeeding year, Benjamin Fairbanks was clerk and Eben- 



REV. ANDREW TYLER, THE SECOND MINISTER 59 

ezer Fisher, in 1 80 1-2. Previous to the coming of Mr. 
Thacher to the parish in 1780, the first deacons had been suc- 
ceeded by Ichabod Gay and Ichabod Ellis. Deacon Gay 
died in 18 14, at the age of ninety-one, and Deacon Ellis in 
1811, at the age of sixty-nine. Ichabod Gay was born in 
1723, had for his wives Elizabeth King and Lucy Richards, 
was a selectman in 1775 and for the three succeeding years, 
and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The destruc- 
tion of the church records makes it impossible to give the 
dates when the deacons were elected or how long they 
served, and without them it is also impossible to give the 
dates of births and deaths in many instances. 

The parish records furnish no evidence that the precinct 
sent any men to the French and Indian wars ; but, as the 
south or Tiot parish did so, it is quite probable the Clap- 
board Trees may have furnished both men and money. A 
military company was formed in the parish soon after its 
legal existence began. In November, 1754, according to the 
report made to the colonel of militia, the company consisted 
of a full list of officers and ninety-seven privates. The cap- 
tain was Joseph Richards ; first lieutenant, Daniel Draper ; 
second lieutenant, Joseph Richards, Jr. ; ensign, John Jones. 
The sergeants were Samuel Colburn, Joseph Dean, Samuel 
Fisher, and John Chickering ; the corporals, Hezekiah Allen, 
Jr., Oliver Bacon, John Richards, Jr., and Ichabod Gay. 
The drummers were John Colburn and Abiathar Richards, 
and the clerk was Eliphalet Baker. Among the privates 
were twelve by the name of Ellis, eight Drapers, the same 
number of Gays, six Colburns, five each by the name of Battle 
and of Richards, and four each who were named Kingsbury, 
Whiting, Fisher, and Chickering. The last name on the list 
was that of the Rev. Andrew Tyler. This company must 
have included on its roster nearly all the able-bodied men 
in the parish. In this, as in other parishes, training day 
became a holiday occasion, and almost equal to Thanksgiv- 
ing. But the day was not one of mere sport, for it helped 
greatly in training men for the coming struggle with Great 
Britain. 



6o THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

That i)ci'iocl we hax'e been considering was a formative one 
in the history of the parish as well as in that of the country. 
Through dissensions and religious controversies, the people 
were seeking a higher religious expression and more of free- 
dom in the management of religious affairs. The troubles 
in the Clapboard Trees parish were the troubles in most of 
the parishes, and they were mild compared with those in 
some other towns. The spirit of liberty was growing, and 
it came at last to full fruition. In the preaching of Andrew 
Tyler there was preparation for that of Thomas Thacher, 
whose Arminianism led finally to the Unitarianism of later 
years. On this quiet country side there lived men and 
women who prized learning, and who gave their children the 
best the country afforded. We should be glad to know what 
books men read in those days in this parish and what they 
were saying on the political and religious questions of the 
day; but, in the absence of such information, we can be 
sure they lived good lives and served their country truly, 
whether on the farm or with the Continental Army. 



V. 



THE PARISH IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

We have now arrived at the time of the struggle for 
American independence, and the slowness in calling a min- 
ister may have been caused in large degree by the concen- 
tration of all the energies of the parish upon that effort for 
liberty. The Clapboard Trees precinct bore an honorable 
part in raising money and in furnishing men, and the 
records would indicate that the spirit of patriotism burned 
strong and steadfast among the people. A complete ac- 
count of what was done by the precinct cannot be ob- 
tained from the parish records, for it bore its share in what 
was done by the town as well as in its own capacity as a 
precinct. It provided itself with firearms in 1777, in order 
to be ready for any emergency ; but there is no account of 
its separate action at Lexington and Concord, as its men 
joined with those of the first and second precincts. A 
meeting of the parish, held in May, 1778, affords a curious 
illustration of the time. At that meeting, two subjects 
were up for consideration, — the hiring of money to enable 
the parish to provide its quota of men and the cutting of the 
bushes on the parish lands. The money was voted, but it 
was decided to permit the bushes to grow. It was not a 
time then for cutting bushes. Men were needed for a more 
important service. 

At a meeting of the parish, held in October, 1777, it was 
decided to take into consideration all the services rendered 
in the parish from the beginning of the war, in order that 
all the men might be properly compensated, and a com- 
mittee was appointed to report on the subject ; and there 
now exists among the parish papers the schedule this com- 
mittee drew up of the men who served and the sum of 



62 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

money to be paid to each. All the entries on the records 
concerning the war, including the above-mentioned schedule, 
are here printed in full : — 

October 22, 1777. — Voted to take into consideration all the services 
done in this precinct since April, 1775, respecting the present war, in 
order that there may be an average made by way of tax. 

Voted to choose a committee to estimate said services. Voted to 
choose three for said committee; chose Ichabod Gay, Capt. Isaac 
Colburn and Mr. Ebene/.ar Smith. 

Voted and granted the sum of eighteen pounds, fifteen shillings to 
pay for lire arms. 

Voted to add two to the committee already chosen to estimate the 
services done the present war; chose Capt. Abel Richards and Lt. 
Joseph Ellis. 

November 5, 1777. — The committee chose to estimate the services 
done in this precinct respecting the present war exhibited a report, 
which was accepted and is on file. 

Voted and granted the sum of six hundred and twenty pounds to be 
levied on the polls and ratable estates in this precinct to defray the 
charge of the present war. 

Dedham, Novr. 5th, 1777. 
We, the subscribers, being chose a committee to estimate the ser- 
vices done in this precinct since April 1775, respecting the present war, 
have attended said services and report as follows, viz: sums of money 
paid : 

Joseph Gay, £() o o 

Moses Gay, 6 00 

Joseph Draper, 6 00 

Benjamin Fairbanks, 11 00 

Theodore Gay, 15 00 

Lt. Nathaniel Colburn, 6 00 

Lt. John Richards, 6 00 

Jeremiah Baker, 5 00 

Jonathan Onion, 7 00 

Enoch Kingsbury, 7 00 

Ichabod Gay, 12 00 

Fisher Whiting, 10 00 

Isaac Colburn, 10 00 

Abner Ellis, 10 00 

David Ellis 5 00 

Joseph Ellis, 6 00 

William Ellis, 10 00 

Job Buckmaster, 5 00 

Timothy Bullard, 7 00 



THE PARISH IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 

Timothy Colburn 

Jonathan Ellis, 

Ichabod Ellis, 

Timothy Draper, 

Oliver Ellis, 

Samuel I'ettee, 

David Colburn, 

Ichabod Colburn, 

Eliakim Richards, 

William Gay, 

Seth Gay, 

Capt. Abel Richards, 

Josiah Gay, 

Eliphalet Baker, 

John Colburn, Jr., 

Jonathan Colburn, 

Isaac Everett, 

Thomas Buckmaster, 

Nathan Ellis, 

Henry Glover, 

Ebenezar Gay, 

Nathaniel Whiting, 

^256 ID o 

That the men that served at or near Boston in 1775 eight months 
recieve the sum of _;^2 8 o each man. ^24 o o. 

Their names : Andrew^ Lewis, Nathan Colburn, Lewis Colburn, Pele- 
tiah Herring, John Carbe, Henry Glover for Simeon Colburn, Joseph 
Baker, Benjamin French, William Fairbanks, Thomas Colburn ; and 
Joseph Dean Jr., and Peletiah Herring Jr., for four months, the sums 
of _;^i 4 o each. £^ 8 o. 

The men that served in 1776 in the Continental service at York and 
Ticonderoga recieve the sum of ^18 o o each. Their names : Lt. John 
Gay and Wm. Fairbanks. ;^36 o o. 

That Ebenezar Fisher that served five months at Ticonderoga re- 
cieve the sum of ^10 o o. 

That Nathaniel Fisher Jr. recieve the sum of ^5 o o. 

That John Buckmaster recieve the sum of ^4 o o. 

MONEY PAID. 

Capt. David Fairbanks, deceased, . . £2 o o 

Eliphalet Baker Jr., 5 00 

Timothy Smith, 4 10 o 

Ebenezar Smith, 8 00 

Timothy Baker Jr., 



5 








5 








5 








6 








6 








6 








3 








3 








6 








5 








2 








2 


ID 





5 








5 








5 








5 








5 








5 








5 








5 








8 








I 









5 








24 


10 





6 









Nathaniel Whiting, 

30 10 



64 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

To hire men to go to Ticonderago, 
To hire men to go to Tiverton, . 

Sum total, 

Ichabod (lay, by order, .... 



.^157 


ID 





57 


12 





.^598 


2 





4 


8 






602 10 o 

November 5th 1777. — It was i)ut : to see if it be the mind of the 
precinct to accept the forgoing report; passed in the affirmative. Attest, 
Icliabod Gay, Precinct Clerk. 

Deer. 1777. — Each man £^z 120 first eight months. 

March, 1778. — Capt. John Gay ^5; Nathan Lewis /iS 10; John 
Andrews ^5. 

December 22, 1777. — Voted to choose a committee to procure men 
for the service of the present war, when legally called for. Voted to 
choose five for said committee ; chose Capt. Abel Richards, Lt. Joseph 
Ellis, Lt. Nathaniel Colburn, Capt. Daniel Gay and Deacon Ichabod 
Gay. Voted that this committee continue until next March. 

Voted that the men that are now in the service of the war be paid 
out of the precinct treasury. 

It was put; to see if it be the mind of the precinct to allow the men 
that served eight months in the war in the year 1775 any further com- 
pensation. Passed in the affirmative. Voted to allow each man two 
pounds twelve shillings in addition to what they have been allowed. 

Voted and granted the sum of one hundred pounds to hire men for 
the service of the present war. 

March 16, 1778. — V^oted to choose a committee to hire men to go 
into the service of the war when legally called for. Voted to choose 
five for said committee; chose David Ellis, Lt. John (iay, Jonathan Col- 
burn, Lewis Colburn and Nathaniel Whiting. 

March 23, 177S. — Voted to allow Lt. John Gay five pounds for his 
service in the war eight months in the year 1775. It was put; to see if 
it be the mind of the precinct to allow Lt. John Gay the further sum of 
five pounds for his service twelve months in the war. Passed in the 
negative. 

It-was put; to see if it be the mind of the precinct to allow Nathan 
Lewis thirteen pounds ten shillings for his service in the Continental 
army in the year 1776, which sum, together with ^4 10 o which his father 
has been abated in the war tax, makes the sum of ^1800, being equal 
to grants made to others, namely, Lt. John Gay and Wm. Fairbanks. 
Passed in the negative. 

Voted to allow Nathan Lewis the sum of eleven pounds fifteen shil- 
lings for his service in tlie war in the year 1776. 

Voted and granted the sum of four hundred pounds to defray the 
charge of the war the ensuing year. 

Voted to excuse the committee chosen to hire men for the service 



THE PARISH IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 65 

of the war, according to their desire. Voted to choose a committee to 
hire men to go into the service of the war when legally called for. 
Voted to choose three ; chose Capt. Daniel Gay, Joseph Draper and 
Ichabod Gay. 

May 13, 1778. — Voted to empower Joseph Gay, precinct treasurer, to 
hire money on behalf of the parish to enable the committee to hire men 
for the service of the war. 

September 9, 1778. — Voted and granted the sum of twelve hundred 
pounds to defray the charge of hiring men for the service of the war. 

March 8, 1779. — Voted to allow Ichabod Gay his account of ^6 18 o 
for his service in hiring men for the war. Voted to allow Capt. Daniel 
Gay £6 18 o for his service. Voted to choose a committee to reckon 
with the committee that was chose to hire men for the service of the 
war. Voted to choose three ; chose Capt. Abel Richards, Capt. Isaac 
Colburn and Mr. Enoch Kingsbury. 

Voted and granted the sum of five hundred pounds to hire men for 
the service of the war. Voted to choose a committee to hire men for 
the war when legally called for. Voted to choose three for said com- 
mittee ; chose Deacon Ichabod Gay, Capt. Daniel Gay and Deacon 
Ichabod Ellis. 

Voted to allow Capt. Abel Richards his service in the war in the 
year 1778 the same price a soldier had that went with him from this 
parish. 

June 17, 1779.— Voted and granted the sum of one thousand pounds 
to defray the charge of hiring men for the service of the war. 

Voted to allow Benjamin Fairbanks a further sum of four pounds for 
service done in the war. 

June 27, 1783. — Voted to allow Mr. Nathaniel Fisher Jr., the sum of 
one pound five shillings as a further compensation for his service in 
the war. 

March 12, 1787. — \'oted and directed the committee to give orders 
to the men that advanced money for the soldiers lately called for by 
government. 

It was not until 1788 that all the money borrowed for the 
hiring of soldiers had been paid. In 1785, Ebenezer Fisher 
and Nathaniel Fisher were paid for services in the war ; and 
in 1786 compensation was made to Abagail Pratt for her son, 
Benjamin Andrews, and Jonathan Onion. 

During the period of the war, and for some time after- 
wards, the people must have been very poor, as the result of 
the depreciation of the Continental money, and because the 
usual avenues of trade were closed. Paper money so far 



66 THE CLAPBOARD TREKS PARISH 

lost its value that in November, 1780, the parish voted to 
receive gold and silver at the rate of one pound for seventy- 
five pounds paper money. The parish records afford two 
or three interesting illustrations of this depreciation in 
money values. Deacon Ichabod Ellis was paid two hundred 
pounds for boarding Mr. Thacher seven weeks in 1779 or 
1780. In March, 1781, Eliphalet Baker was paid fifty-four 
pounds for one cord of wood for the use of Mr. Thacher, 
and Timothy Baker was paid forty-eight pounds for two 
loads of wood for the same purpose. A little later in the 
same year, Capt. Abel Richards and Job Buckmaster were 
each paid twenty-seven pounds for a load of wood for Mr. 
Thacher. In 1782, the parish accounts seem to have been 
kept on the basis of gold ; for, in the latter part of that year, 
only six and seven shillings per cord were paid for wood. 
In the year 1780 and 1781, when the parish paid Mr. 
Thacher sixty pounds each year as a settlement gratuity, 
they voted to raise 4,125 pounds for this purpose. Such 
was the difference between gold and paper, which was as 
one to sixty-eight and three-fourths. 

In the archives at the State House are preserved the 
muster rolls of many of the companies which served on the 
19th of April, 1775, and at later periods during the Revolu- 
tion. Three companies went from the Clapboard Trees on 
the 19th of April, the muster rolls of which are there pre- 
served. These were led by Daniel Draper, Daniel Fair- 
banks, and William Ellis ; and the rank, days of service, 
miles travelled, and pay allowed were carefully recorded and 
sworn to by the captain of each company. It is possible 
that all the men forming these three companies were not 
from the Clapboard Trees, but most of them must have been 
residents of the parish. In some instances. Clapboard Trees 
men served in other Dedham companies. In order to make 
this record as complete as possible, these muster rolls are 
here reproduced in full : — 

A list of a Company that marched from the third parish in Dedham, 
in the alarm occasioned by the Lexington battle, on April 19, 1775, 
under the command of Capt. Daniel Draper in Col. Davis' Regiment. 



THE PARISH IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 6/ 

Miles Days Total, 

distance, allowed. 

Daniel Draper, Capt., 24 6 1782 

Nathan Ellis, Serj., 24 6 1231 

Tim. Draper, Serj., 24 4 8 10 i 

Job Buckmaster, 24 4 782 

David Ellis, 24 6 1063 

Amasa Farrington, 24 2 4 10 i 

Ezra Gay, 24 6 10 6 3 

Jerem Baker, 24 2 4 10 t 

Enoch Kingsbury, 24 4 7 8 2 

Jon"^ Onion, 24 2 4 10 i 

Aaron Ellis 24 2 4 10 i 

Sam^ Colburn, Jr., 24 2 4 10 i 

Williani Gay, 24 2 4 10 i 

Jon=^ Whiting 24 2 4 10 i 

Simeon Colburn, 24 2 4 10 i 

John Colburn," 24 6 10 6 3 

Joseph Dean, 22 2 4 10 i 

And"' Lewis 24 2 4 10 i 

Fisher Whiting, 24 2 4 10 i 

Daniel Gay, 24 2 4 10 i 

Seth Gay, 24 i 35 

Jonathan Ellis 24 2 4 10 i 

Isaac Whiting, 24 2 4 10 i 

Nathaniel Colburn, 24 4 782 

^8.15. oi 

Suffolk ss Januy 5, 1776. Then Capt. Daniel Draper came be- 
fore me and made oath that the above muster roll is just and true accord- 
ing to his knowledge. 

Before Nat. Sumner, Justice of the Peace. 

Dedham, December the 14th, 1775. 
A list of a Party of Soldiers in a Militia Company in Dedham, under 
the command of David Fairbanks, and in Col. Heath's Reg', that was 
in the Service on the alarm the 19th April, 1775. 

Names. Rank. Days Amount. 

service. 

David Fairbanks, Capt. 2 ;^o 8 6^ 

Jonathan Colburn, Lieut. 2 o 7 10^ 

Joseph Draper, Serjt. 2 057 

Joseph Dean Corpl. 2 053 

Oliver Ellis, Corpl. 2 053 

Abel Richards, Private 2 05 

Daniel Smith, " 2 05 

Ezra Gay, " 2 05 

Snmuel Colburn, " 2 05 

John Farrington, •- ■> " 2 05 



68 



THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 



ite 


2 


O 


5 






2 


O 


5 






2 


O 


5 






2 


o 


5 






£?> 


17 


6 


D 


VVID Fys 


lIRBanks, Capt. 



Timothy Baker, Private 

Samuel Baker 

Abner Smith 

Lemuel Herring 



Colony Massachusetts Bay, Jan. the 25th, 1 776. 
David Fairbanks made solemn oath that this roll, by him subscribed, 
is true in all its parts, according to the best of his knowledge. 

Before Samuel Hatten, Justice Peace, thro' the Colony. 

A Muster Roll of the Company under the command of Capt. William 
Ellis of Col. Heath's Regiment, 1775. 



Mens names. 

William Ellis, . , 
Jonathan Colburn, 
Joseph Ellis, 
Benj. Fairbanks, 
Ebenezer Fisher, 
Eliphalet Baker, 
Oliver Ellis, 
William Gay, . 
Timothy Baker, 
Timothy Smith, 
David Smith, . 
Abner Smith, . 
Jonathan Whiting, 
Ebenezer Herring, 
Ichabod Colburn, 
Simeon Colburn, 
Abel Richards, 
John Richards, 
Seth Gay, . . 
Samuel {.') Baker, 
Ezra Gay, . . 
John Farrington, 
Nathaniel Whiting 
Fisher Whiting, 
Isaac Everett, . 
Samuel Pettee, 
Samuel Gay, 
David Dean, 
Nathaniel Baker 
Jonathan Onion, 
Isaac Comecher, 



Errors excepted, Wm. Ellis. 



Rank. 

Capt. 

Lt. 

Serj. 



Corp. 



Private 



Travel 

miles. 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

36 

-,6 



Time of 
service. 

9 days. 

5 
4 
8 

9 

4 

2 

4 
2 

9 
6 

9 
8 

9 
9 
9 
9 
4 
5 
I 

5 
5 
5 
9 
5 

3 
5 
3 
9 



Whole amount. 

'■ 5 7i 

18 9i 

11 6i 
18 4i 

I o I 

ID ID 

7 9 

10 10^ 

7 3 
17 2 

12 II 

7 3 
17 2 

15 9 

17 2 

17 2 

11 6 
17 2 

10 I 

11 6 



5 10 
II 6 



II 
II 
17 



7 3 

8 S 

7 I in the Army. 

4 3 

12 9 



£'-0 14 li 



THE PARISH IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 69 

Middlesex ss Decern. 20, 1775. The above named William Ellis 
made solemn oath that the above Muster Roll, by him subscribed, is 
just and true in all its parts. 

Before me, Moses Gill, Justice Peace, thro' the province. 

On the 19th of April, the alarm came by a messenger who 
passed through Needham and Dover. The militia com- 
panies had long been in training, and were ready to march 
on the shortest notice. When the alarm was given, the men 
at once dropped every employment, and mustered rapidly at 
Dedham village. From there they marched to the scene of 
action, the company of each parish acting for itself or join- 
ing the regiment to which it belonged. The alarm came at 
nine o'clock, and the three hundred Dedham men joined in 
the attack on the British soldiers as they retreated from 
Concord and Lexington. No one from the Clapboard 
Trees was either wounded or killed. 

At the close of the war, the people were in a condition of 
poverty. The chief articles of food were potatoes, salted 
pork, and corn meal. In one family, seven pounds of wheat 
flour were bought as a special Thanksgiving luxury. In the 
same family, the only way of securing money for the pay- 
ment of taxes, which were very heavy, was by going into 
the woods of the father and his sons for several days, burn- 
ing a pit of charcoal, and carting that to Boston with an ox- 
team, sleeping under the cart for one night on the trip, and 
eating the scanty meals which were taken from home. On 
one such journey to Boston, the father advised his sons to 
go to England, for this country, he said, was ruined, and it 
would never know prosperity again. 



VI. 



SETTLING A NEW MINISTER. 

Notwithstanding the continuance of the war, and the 
financial depression which went with it, in the autumn of 
1779 the parish repaired its meeting-house and called a min- 
ister. At a meeting held Oct. 18, 1779, the parish voted 
unanimously to concur with the church in calling Thomas 
Thacher to that office. From the treasurer's book, it would 
appear that Mr. Thacher first preached in the Clapboard 
Trees parish in the summer of 1778; for, in September 
of that year, it is recorded that he was paid ten pounds for 
preaching. In December, he was paid seventeen pounds ; 
but he did not preach again until the following summer, 
when in July he was paid twenty-seven pounds. The 
young man, just from his studies, was not hastily decided 
upon ; and. he did not hastily accept the request to become 
the minister of -the parish. On the part of the parish there 
was the difficulty of the financial depression and the stagna- 
tion of all business to contend with ; and there was also 
the remembrance of the troubles with Mr. Tyler. Both of 
these appear in the action taken by the parish at a meeting 
held Nov. 5, 1779. At this time, the following items of 
business were transacted, as appears from the records : — 

Voted that the parish will maintain Mr. Thomas Thacher honorably 
while he shall remain our minister ; and as the state of our currency is 
so fluctuating and uncertain at present that we are at a loss to determine 
what sum will be sufficient for that purpose, we desire him, if he has 
any inclination to settle with us, to confer upon the premises with the 
committee we shall choose for that purpose. Also voted, for the rea- 
sons above-said, that it is our desire, further, that the said committee 
confer with Mr. Thacher with regard to an encouragement to him to 
settle among us. 



SETTLING A NEW MINISTER Jl 

Also voted and come to the following resolve, that, whereas, there 
are sometimes great dissensions between Minister and people, which we 
earnestly pray may never be the case with us, yet should that happen, 
and Mr. Thacher should desire a separation, he has liberty by this our 
proposal to a discharge of his pastoral office among us. On the other 
hand, if the major part of the precinct shall any time in future by their 
handwriting signify to him their desire of a dissolution of his pastoral 
office among us he shall consent thereto. However, in either case, dis- 
interested men are to judge of the terms, all parties and circumstances 
to be heard and considered. Nevertheless, all methods for peace and 
reconciliation, as pointed out in the Gospel, are to be pursued for peace 
and harmony. 

The committee chosen to confer with Mr. Thacher con- 
.sisted of Capt. Daniel Draper, Mr. Eliphalet Baker, Mr. 
Joseph Gay, Deacon Ichabod Gay, Capt. Daniel Gay, Mr. 
Abner Ellis, and Mr. Nathaniel Whiting. Much difficulty 
seems to have been met with in making satisfactory arrange- 
ments, for the parish held no less than eight adjourned 
meetings during the winter before it arrived at a final de- 
cision. At a meeting held Feb. 14, 1780, it came to the 
following conclusions : — 

Voted to grant Mr. Thomas Thacher one hundred and ten pounds 
lawful money as an encouragement for him to settle with us, to be paid 
to him one-half in the year 1780, the other half in the year 1781, in gold 
or silver or the value thereof in Continental currency as the exchange 
shall be at the time of payment, as also reference being had to the 
price of land at the time aforesaid. 

Voted Mr. Thacher shall have the improvement of the six acres of 
land which belongs to the precinct so long as he is our Minister. 

Voted to supply Mr. Thacher with fire-wood for his own use so long 
as he shall remain our Minister, to be delivered at his dwelling, not 
exceeding twenty-five cords per year. 

Whereas, the precinct have voted to support Mr. Thacher honorably 
while he is our Minister, but have not mentioned any sum for that 
purpose, therefore, as an explanation thereof. 

Voted and granted Mr. Thacher sixty-seven pounds lawful money 
annually, to be paid in the proportion hereafter mentioned, viz: beef at 
twenty shillings per hundred weight, rye at four shillings per bushel and 
Indian corn at three shillings four pence per bushel, siiceps wool at one 
shilling four pence per pound and sole leather at one shilling two pence 
per pound ; and, whereas the war is very distressing to the people, we 
do reserve a right to deduct one-third (or any part of said third) part of 



72 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

said sixty-seven pounds during the present war with Great Britain, and 
two years after said war shall cease. 

After nearly two months more of deliberation, Mr. 
Thacher sent the following acceptance, here reproduced with 
the spelling and punctuation of the parish records : — 

To the Church and Congregation of Christ in Dedham, Clapboard 

tree Precinct 
Brethren, 

I have considered the invitation you have given me to settle with you 
as your Pastor with that attention which the importance of the subject 
requires. After weighing all circumstances that respect you and my- 
self: and having asked counsel of heaven in this serious affair, I think 
it my duty to comply with your request. 

The difficulty that attends this office is at all times great: and a con- 
currence of circumstances at this Day render it peculiarly so. The 
catholic and liberal sentiments among you which I have observed from 
my earliest acquaintance with you have encouraged me to hope that it 
will in some degree be lightned. I hope also that the same principles 
will prevail upon you to exercise that candor and indulgence towards 
me ; of which Youth and Inexperience hath constant occasion. 

The offers contained in your votes of the 14th of February last you 
must be sensible are moderate: The distresses of the country are an 
apology. I am far from wishing to be exemted from the sufferings of 
my Brethren, and am as willing to share in their afflictions as to rejoice 
in their prosperity. In respect to the article where you reserve a right 
of deducting "one third part of the sum you have voted during the pres- 
ent war and two years after it shall cease " I acquiesce confiding at the 
same time in your honour and generosety that you will not construe it 
in a more vigorous sense than what the exigencies of the publick and of 
individuals shall render necessary. 

I earnestly desire your prayers for me that I may be furnished with 
Wisdom, and Piety and all those gifts and graces needfuU for the 
employment of a gospel Minister in order that I may be usefull to you 
and to myself. I return you my sincere thanks for your kindness and 
favorable opinion. May the best of the Divine blessings rest upon you. 

I remain vour sincere friend. 





Dedham April 4th 1780 



SETTLING A NEW MINISTER 73 

Mr. Thacher was ordained on Wednesday, the 4th of June, 
1780. The sermon was preached by his brother, the Rev. 
Peter Thacher of Maiden, afterwards of the Brattle Street 
Church, Boston. The Rev. Samuel West, of Needham, 
offered the introductory prayer ; the Rev. Mr. Robbins, of 
Milton, gave the charge ; the Rev. Josiah Haven, of the 
tirst church in Dedham, gave the right hand of fellowship ; 
and the Rev. Mr. Cummings, of Billerica, offered the con- 
cluding prayer. The first and second churches in Dedham, 
the second in Berwick, and the churches in Needham, 
Dover, Medfield, Maiden, Milton, and Billerica were invited 
to join in the service. 

Having settled a minister, the parish went quietly on its 
way for many years, and during the first twenty-five years 
of Mr. Thacher's ministry furnished little for the recording 
pen of the historian. In 1780, "a number of men were 
chosen to inspect the boys, and in case ot misdemeanor, to 
bring them down to their parents or masters or the hind 
seat " ; which would indicate that the boys were usually 
seated by themselves in the galleries. 

In 1 78 1, committees were appointed by the third and first 
parishes to establish a line between the two parishes. These 
committees consisted of Capt. Daniel Gay, Deacon Ichabod 
Gay, and Mr. Abner Ellis for the third parish, and of Jona- 
than Metcalf, Esq., Deacon William Avery, and Mr. Isaac 
Whiting for the first. These committees, having viewed the 
grounds, decided on a boundary line, which was legalized by 
an act of the General Court, and which they described as 
follows : — 

Beginning at the cross ways, so-called, near the dwelling-house of 
Messrs Ebenezer and Samuel Gay, and running a straight line north- 
wardly or Noi-thwesterly to the Northwest corner of a wood-lot belonging 
to the church in the first parish in said Dedham, where it meets with 
Medfield road, so-called, at the Northeast corner of Eliphalet Baker's 
land, and continuing the same straight line to Rocktield road, so-called ; 
then turning westwardly in said road and running in the same as it 
is now laid out to the bridge at the cedar swamp so-called, and so 
on in said road until it meets with the line of Springfield parish in 
said town. 



74 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

In 1794, a division line was established between the third 
and second parishes, which was described as a "course from 
the house of Asa Fisher, formerly Richard Ellis's, to the 
center between where the South parish meeting-house for- 
merly stood and the Clapboard Tree meeting-house, North 
52^ degrees East." 

As indicating the simple life wliich the people lived, a few 
items may be gleaned from the clerk's records and the treas- 
urer's book. These are only with reference to the prices 
of labor and the cheapness of the staple commodities. In 
March, 1785, Oliver Ellis was paid four pounds for cutting 
and carting eleven and one-half cords of wood for Mr. 
Thacher. At this period, nine shillings were paid for 
sweeping the meeting-house for one year. In the year 1800 
Newell Ellis received ninety-nine cents for cutting and de- 
livering one cord of wood, and in 1801 Moses Gay had 
eleven dollars for ten cords. During the first decade of the 
present century, two dollars a year were paid for sweeping 
the meeting-house. In 1808, Thaddeus Gay labored for 
three and one-half days at the new meeting-house "blowing- 
rock" ; and he received five dollars and eighty-three cents 
therefor. Abner Gay was paid three dollars and fifty cents 
for the same number of days' labor "on the wall round the 
new meeting-house." In 18 10, eight dollars and twenty- 
three cents were paid Moses Kingsbury for ringing the bell 
and taking care of the meeting-house. On the inside of the 
front cover of the second book of the parish records is posted 
a schedule of prices at which live stock were valued for pur- 
poses of taxation during the earlier part of the century. 
These were as follows : one cow, $17 ; one yoke oxen, $50 ; 
one horse, $35 ; one chaise, $50; one swine, $4. 

In his historical sermon of 1801, Mr. Thacher gave a few 
statistics which are of interest. In 1800, the number of 
houses was eighty-one and the population four hundred. 
From 1780 to 1800, Mr. Thacher baptized one hundred and 
forty-nine persons, four of them adults. The deaths were one 
hundred and twenty-eight. Fifty persons were admitted to 
the church ; of active male members, nineteen. In 1801, the 



SETTLING A NEW MINISTER 75 

whole church membership was seventy, twenty-four males 
and forty-six females. Seventy couples were married during 
these twenty years. 

In 1 8 10, June 7, John Richards and George Ellis were 
elected deacons by the church. The parish clerks were as 
follows: Deacon George Ellis, 1803 to 1806, 1808 to 18 11, 
1814 to 1816, 1818 to 1840; Richard Ellis, in 1807 and in 
1 8 17; Nathaniel Whiting, 18 12 and 181 3. Deacon George 
Ellis served no less than thirty-four years as the clerk of the 
parish. 



VII. 

• THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 

The meeting-house erected in 1731 had now been in use 
for more than three-quarters of a century, and was fast be- 
coming unfit for use without extensive repairs. At the 
March meeting of 1804, a committee was appointed "to ex- 
amine the meeting-house and see if it be worth repairing, 
and to estimate the expense as near as may be, and see if 
they can obtain any land for an opening round the meeting- 
house." In the spring of 1805, the parish was surv^eyed 
for the purpose of ascertaining its geographical centre, that 
being regarded as the best place for locating a new house. 
In March, 1805, the report of the committee on repairing 
the old house was rejected ; and it was decided not to repair 
the old house and not to build a new one. In 1806, at the 
March meeting, it was decided to build. A committee of 
three was appointed to ascertain the centre of the parish, 
and a committee of thirteen to decide upon the most suit- 
able place for locating the meeting-house. At the adjourned 
meeting of March 24, the report of the committee, that the 
new house be built on Deacon Ellis's land, was accepted. 
The committee on surveying the parish was, however, 
directed " to take the mileage of every family to the meeting- 
house, and also to the hearsc-house ; and to take an account 
of each persons taxes to the nighest of the two mentioned 
houses." A meeting in April annulled the vote in favor of 
Deacon Ellis's land ; and it was determined to hold another 
meeting of the parish, " to see if the parish will build a new- 
meeting-house, repair the old onef, grant money to defray 
the expenses or otherwise determine as they may judge 
expedient." Once more the parish assembled, and this time 
concluded it was best " to build a meeting-house on or 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 



n 



within three rods of the rock in Deacon Ichabod Ellis's 
land." Adjourning to September 8, a committee was then 
chosen to bring before the parish a plan for a new house, 
and to ascertain on what terms the land voted for could be 




MAP MADE IN 1807. 

obtained. Reassembling September 29, the committee 
reported a plan for a house, and that land could be obtained 
of Deacon Ellis free of expense. It was voted, however, to 
reconsider the action in favor of Deacon Ellis's land, and 
"to build a meeting-house at the centre stake or within 
twenty-five rods of the centre." Notwithstanding this vote, 
a committee was appointed "to view the ground and find 
the most suitable place for a meeting-house." In October, 



78 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

the vote locating at the centre was reconsidered ; and it was 
"resolved that each voter in parish affairs express which 
of the five. places he prefers for first, second and third spot 
for a meeting-house, viz : where the meeting-house now 
stands, the rock, the stake, and Fox Hill or the churcli 
land." The rock was Deacon Ellis's land, the stake was the 
centre of the parish, and was near the burying-ground, and 
the church land was probably south of the old meeting- 
house toward Pond Plain. At the March meeting of 1807, 
these places were voted on, with the following result : — 

At a meeting of the third parish in Dedham, on a motion to take 
the sense of the parish respecting a spot to set a meeting-house, 26 
appeared in favor of Deacon Ellis's rock or within ten rods of the rock, 
and 23 against it. On a further motion to set a meeting-house on Mr. 
Jotham Richards' land, where it was formerly staked out for that pur- 
pose, 23 appeared in favor of the spot and 33 against it. Again moved 
to see which spot they preferred, and 30 appeared in favor of Deacon 
Ellis's rock and 22 for Mr. Richards' land. It was then moved to set a 
meeting house on Deacon Ellis's land on the westerly side of Onion's 
brook near the road ; 9 appeared in favor and 39 against it. It was then 
tried to see how many were in favor of Mr. P'rederick Richards' rock; 
4 appeared in favor of it. It was then tried for the parish rock, and 10 
appeared in favor and 35 against it. 

These votes indicated very clearly that the majority of 
the legal members of the parish were in favor of Deacon 
Ellis's land ; but the minority were determined not to accept 
that location. Accordingly, it was voted that, "whereas 
the parish have uniformly voted to build a decent house 
for public worship (if they could agree on a spot to set 
the house on), but upon repeated trials they have been so 
unhappy as not to think alike respecting the most suit- 
able place," therefore it would be better to leave the deter- 
mination of the location to disinterested persons. Elijah 
Brigham of Westboro, John How of Dorchester, and John 
Ellis of Medway were invited to act as a committee for the 
final adjustment of the dispute. The parish voted "that 
the committee or major part of them agreeing on a spot, it 
shall be decisive." This committee was asked to take "the 
roads, houses and all other local circumstances into view, 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 



79 



and to establish the rock or within ten rods of the rock in 
Deacon Ellis's land or the hill in Mr. Jotham Richards' land, 
which shall be the proper place for the house to stand on, 
and that to be considered by the parish as the only place." 
This committee met on the 28th of April, at the tavern 
of Capt. Abner Ellis, and proceeded, according to their 
report, "to view the dimensions, the several houses and 
roads of said parish, and the local and relative situation of 
the inhabitants to each other, and particularly their relative 
situation to the two proposed places for erecting a new meet- 
ing-house ; and, after hearing the several representations 
and statements urged for and against the two proposed 
places, and duly considering the various circumstances, the 
interest and the right of the individuals who compose the 
parish, did unanimously agree and determine, that the rock 
so-called or within ten rods of the rock, in Deacon Ellis's 
land, near the old meeting-house, be the place for the third 
parish to erect their proposed new meeting-house." 

The parish assembled May 25, and voted "to set the 
meeting-house on Deacon Ellis's rock." June 22, it adopted 
a plan for the new house, selected a committee to ask the 
town to lay out a road from the burying-ground to the new 
meeting-house site, and voted to raise three thousand dol- 
lars, to be assessed on the polls and estates of the parish, 
towards building a new meeting-house. Thirty-four favored 
raising this sum of money, and twenty-seven opposed it. 
A committee, consisting of Ebenezer Fisher, Willard Gay, 
Capt. Benjamin Fairbanks, George Ellis, Capt. Jeremiah 
Baker, John Baker, and Capt. Abner Ellis, was chosen by 
ballot "to superintend the building a new meeting-house 
under the direction of the parish." The road asked for was 
granted by the town, and Nahatan Street was laid out and 
built in 1807. 

The site selected for the meeting-house was one of much 
beauty. The rock in Deacon Ellis's land was the highest 
point on Nahatan Hill, and it commanded a wide prospect to 
the east and south. To the east, Blue Hill was full in view, 
and Boston harbor could be seen on clear days. To the 



8o THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH- 

south-cast lay Canton, to the south the second parish, and 
beyond it Sharon. The high lands of Walpole could be 
seen a little to the westward, and still farther in the same 
direction the hills which lay towards Medfield and Dover. 
From the door of the meeting-house, a wide extending and 
beautiful prospect stretched out before the beholder. Hills, 
forests, and villages made up a scene of quiet loveliness that 
must have charmed all who looked upon it. Those who 
desired to have their house of worship located on this spot 
may not have been influenced by aesthetic considerations, 
but they could not have failed to take delight in the fair 
scene it presented as they came up to the Lord's house. 

The work of building at once began. It was at first pro- 
posed that Eliphalet Baker should build the new house, and 
he was afterwards paid fifteen dollars for his loss in relin- 
quishing the task. The builder finally selected was Capt. 
Benjamin Robbins, who was not a resident of the parish. 

Those who did not favor the site chosen did not become 
reconciled, as the work of building the new house went on. 
The feeling which had been aroused was too strong and 
bitter to be easily allayed ; and in October it took the form 
of a protest to the parish committee, which was worded as 
follows : — 

To the Committee of the Third Parish in Dedham: 

Gentlemen : 

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of said parish, request 
that you would not proceed to assess the three thousand dollars agreed 
upon for building a meeting-house by a small majority of the parish 
collected together in June last, and state the following reasons and ob- 
jections against the assessing thereof: 

First. When so many of the inhabitants of said parish have so 
strong objections to assessing said tax, and proceedings has a great ten- 
dency to dismember the parish, and will weaken the parish so that it will 
be in danger of crumbling to pieces. 

Secondly. We consider the meeting illegal and without law, which 
will naturally bring on many vexatious suits, which will, of course, bring 
on hate and hating one another and evil surmises, which weakens society 
and that peace and love which the preached gospel is intended to in- 
culcate. 

Thirdly. We consider that there is no collector chosen, nor that the 
committee have any power to commit the tax (if assessed) to any person 
whomsoever. 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 8 1 

To this protest the names of forty-four members of the 
parish were signed. As the parish collected the tax and 
went on with the building of the new house, the protestants 
carried the question of the legality of the tax to the Supreme 
Court of the State, where it was decided that it had been 
made in an illegal manner. 

At the March meeting of r8o8, the treasurer of the par- 
ish was empowered to borrow one thousand dollars (if neces- 




THE MEETI-VG-HOaSE BUILT IN It 



sary) for the purpose of finishing the new meeting-house. 
A protest, signed by twenty-two persons, was made against 
the action of this meeting, " because the parish has pro- 
ceeded to make a list of voters on the single rate made by 
the assessor and committed to a constable, without any legal 
authority by law so to do, and because the assessors have 
not been sworn agreeable to law ; by which reasons many of 
the inhabitants are deprived of their privileges." At an 
April meeting, a request was presented by Timothy Baker 
and others "to see if the parish will build their meeting- 



82 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

house westerly of the hoop-pole rock (so called) not exceed- 
ing forty rods." Various changes in the plans of the 
house were discussed and accepted. Following the records 
of this meeting, the clerk inserted this note : — 

Ju]y£5tb, 1808. — At the rising of the sun the people assembled to 
raise the new meeting-house, and after attending prayers, the raising 
was begun and finished on the following day. 

On the 26th of December, the parish voted a farther tax 
of two thousand dollars, for the purpose of completing the 
new house, probably not much more than one-half of the 
first tax of three thousand dollars having been collected. 
At this meeting, the parish also 

Voted, that a committee of nine be chosen to offer in behalf of the 
parish, to such as appear' dissatisfied with building the new meeting- 
house, to leave all disputes to disinterested men, with full power to agree 
on the men and appear before them in behalf of the parish. Messrs. 
Willard Gay, Deacon Ichabod Ellis, Capt. Jeremiah Baker, Richard 
Ellis, Joseph Draper, George Ellis, John Baker, Jotbam Richards and 
Samuel French were chosen for said committee. 

The parish records give no evidence that this committee 
was in any degree successful in accomplishing the objects 
for which it was appointed. Those opposed to the new 
house had already begun to attend the Baptist meetings in 
Medfield ; and they were not inclined to accept any compro- 
mise at so late a date. 

The house built was forty-seven feet square, and w'as 
planned to contain fifty-three pews on the lower floor. Gal- 
leries were built on three sides, box-pews were adopted, and 
the pulpit was very high. On the ist of March, 1809, the 
new house was ready for dedication. 

Mr. Thacher preached the last sermon in the old meeting- 
house; and on the following Sunday, March i, the new house 
was dedicated. In the sermon on leaving the old house, he 
complained of the great changes which had taken place in 
society since it was erected, which had corrupted the moral- 
ity and the simple habits of the people. " Fastidious orna- 
ments," he said, "have taken the place of simplicit}- in dress, 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 83 

language, and the common intercourse of life. Delicacy is 
substituted for chastity, party zeal for the fervor and fidel- 
ity of private friendship, a pompous display of verbose elo- 
quence for the essentials of a good education aud of classic 
literature. It will not be denied that we have progre'ssed in 
the fine, and in many of the useful arts, in a manner suitable 
to the increased opulence and population of the country ; 
but yet a profusion of multiplied luxuries proves our artifi- 
cial wants and our effeminate habits. In a word, we cannot 
examine any part of private life without discovering as great 
an alteration in our sentiments and customs as in our public 
edifices and private houses. Few traits are seen in these 
either of primitive simplicity or the manly virtues." 

In this judgment, undoubtedly Mr. Thacher was quite too 
severe on the men and women of his own time ; and what 
he took for corruption was in reality a healthy growth. 
Many look back on his time as better than ours, just as he 
thought the time of the first settlers better than that in 
which he lived. Some of his parishioners complained that 
he was not as the old-fashioned ministers were, and we 
often hear precisely the same complaint made to-day. The 
fact is, that each generation has its own character ; and the 
part of wisdom is to believe in the present, to look forward 
to the future and not to look back to the past. 

Of the first settlers of the parish Mr. Thacher said : — 

This house has stood for seventy-eight years. Not a head which 
planned, nor hand employed in building it, but what has long been 
mouldering in the dust. Very few either in the parish or town now sur- 
vive who then existed, nor Is there a single person now living who was 
then the head of a family. Of those who signed the first church cove- 
nant, one only was alive after my settlement in this place. The same 
has been dead for more than a quarter of a century. Since the above 
mentioned period, what numbers in this inconsiderable hamlet have been 
born, formed connections and expired. Families then the most flourish- 
ing and prosperous in this parish were long since blasted with misery 
and depression. And though this place be more stationary than any 
within my knowledge, as to sameness of names and families, houses and 
inclosures, yet were the first settlers to rise from the grave they scarcely 
could trace out their former residence and situation. 



84 THE CLAPnOAKD TREES PARISH 

He also said a very kind and generous word concerning 
those who had dissevered their connection with the parish 
organization : — 

Respecting our brethren who have dissented from us in the location 
of our new i^lace of worship, our heart's desire and prayer to God is, 
that between us and them there may be, on terms equally honorable and 
advantageous, a cordial and radical conciliation. I trust and hope that 
all of us who assemble together will be ready to make any reasonable 
sacrifice for attaining so valuable an object. Let all bitterness and 
wrath and severe censures cease from among us. Let us be clothed 
with charity, as with a garment. We remember with affection many 
habits of intimacy and friendship which we have enjoyed with many of 
them; we admit many good qualities they possess, and the kind offices 
by some of them expressed. If we should be so unhappy as not to 
accomplish our desire of christian re-union and association, still let us 
be ready on our part to express on all occasions the courtesies of life, 
that interchange of kindness, good neighborhood and friendship due 
from all citizens to each other, however discordant their local views 
and their religious opinions. 

At the dedication of the new meeting-house, Mr. Thacher 
preached the sermon, which was devoted to a careful consid- 
eration of the reasons why public worship should be main- 
tained ; while the introductory prayer was made by the Rev. 
Jabez Chickering of the south parish, and the concluding 
prayer by the Rev. Joshua Bates of the first parish. " Two 
anthems adapted to the occasion," we are told by the local 
newspaper, "were performed with much taste and excellence 
by a large choir of musicians, both vocal and instrumental, 
and soothed and exhilerated with tones of sweet harmony, a 
numerous and respectable auditory." • 

The total cost of the new meeting-house seems to have 
been about five thousand five hundred dollars. The land on 
which it was located was given, free of any reservations or 
conditions, by Deacon Ichabod Ellis (three-quarters of an 
acre) and by his son Newell Ellis (one-quarter of an acre). 
Six persons subscribed towards providing the house with a 
bell ; but their action was anticipated by the gift of a bell 
from the Hon. Joshua Fisher, of Beverly. The cost of dec- 
orating the pidpit, nearly seventy dollars, was met by the 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 85 

women of the parish. The materials used for this purpose 
and in making the cushion, according to the bill now among 
the parish papers, consisted of five yards moreen, eleven 
yards fringe, ten yards lace, one tassel, three yards crimson 
damask, four yards crimson silk fringe, seventeen yards 
crimson silk lace, three and one-half pounds feathers, one 
and one-fourth yards tick, and four silk tassels. "I feel 
myself authorized to declare," said Mr. Thacher, in publish- 
ing his two sermons, "that the politeness, christian affec- 
tion and sympathy expressed by the other societies in the 
town towards us in our present difficulties has excited the 
warmest gratitude in the minds of all who assemble with us 
in public worship." 

A committee was chosen to sell the old meeting-house, 
which was bought by Aaron Baker. It was subsequently 
taken to pieces, moved to High Street, and there rebuilt and 
used for public worship by those who had withdrawn from 
the parish. As rebuilt, it was smaller, but almost exactly 
like the new house in its interior arrangement and exterior 
construction. 

The spirit of reconciliation expressed itself in October by 
a committee of seven, chosen " to confer with the west side 
of the parish respecting a settlement with regard to the 
meeting-house " ; and the committee was instructed " to 
offer them reasonable pay for the expense they have been 
at in erecting the old meeting-house, on condition that they 
return and remain with the parish." 

In the spring of 1809, Mr. Thacher, in a communication 
to the parish meeting, relinquished seventy-five dollars of 
his salary for the previous year, to be devoted to the ex- 
penses of the new house. He expressed a wish to share 
that expense with his neighbors, and he said the sum given 
was more by fifteen dollars than his share of the tax. He 
also denied the report that he had been influential in secur- 
ing the location of the house on the land of Deacon Ellis. 
"I think justice to myself," he wrote, "requires me to say, 
that I never directly or mediately solicited or influenced any 
man to vote for setting it on the rock." 



86 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

In the autumn of 1809, horse-sheds were built containing 
twenty stalls. Stoves were probably put into the new meet- 
ing-house soon after it was built, but the first mention of 
them in the records was in 18 18. The meeting-house had 
no carpets at this pcri(jd ; for, in 1816, Darling Trask was 
paid sixty-two and one-half cents "for sanding the meeting- 
house floor." 

Those who had withdrawn from the parish not only pro- 
ceeded to erect a house of their own, and to connect them- 
selves with the Baptist society in Medfield, but they took 
active measures against being taxed to support the parish 
within the territorial limits of which they lived. The law 
required the taxation of every resident of a parish for the 
support of public worship within that parish, unless he could 
show evidence that he was a regular attendant upon some 
other religious services. Accordingly, the following notice 
was served upon the parish committee: — 

We, the subscribers, John Perkins, public teacher of a society of 
Baptists in Medfield, Ebenezer Clark and Eleazer Perry, having been 
chosen a special committee of said society to certify who are the mem- 
bers thereof, and who do usually and frequently, when able, attend with 
us in our meetings for religious worship, do certify that Phinehas Col- 
burn, Benjamin Colburn, Andrew Lewis, Jonathan Colburn, David 
Baker, Abijah Colburn, Benjamin French, Jun., George Colburn, Joseph 
Ellis 2nd. James Pettee, Joel Everett, Thacher Colburn, Ichabod Col- 
burn, Abraham Sanderson, Smith Emerson. Isaac Colburn Jun, Benja- 
min French, Eliphalet Baker, Joseph Draper, Samuel Pettee, Enoch 
Kingsbury, Eliphalet Colburn, Obed Baker, Daniel Draper, Aaron 
Baker and Joseph Baker belong to said society, and that they usually 
and frequently, when able, attend with us in our meetings for religious 
worship. 

Signed, John Perkins, 

Ebenezer Clark, 
Eleazer Perry. 
Medfield, July ist, 1809. 

A similar notice certified that Isaac Smith, Abijah Smith, 
John Ellis, Jr., and Abijah Fisher, residents of Walpole, but 
included for many years in the Clapboard Trees parish, also 
attended the Baptist meetings in Medfield. In order to 
make sure of not being taxed, most of the above-named 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 8/ 

persons in October sent a notice to the assessors saying that 
it would be of no use to assess them. They also said, " We 
neither expect you to help us pay for building our meeting 
house nor support our public teacher ; neither do we intend 
to assist you in building and supporting yours." In July, 
i8io, the parish took the following action with reference to 
these notices : — 

Voted, that the assessors that were chosen in March last be directed 
to omit in their assessment all such persons belonging to the parish as 
they shall judge do not consider themselves belonging with our society. 

In iSii, June ii, the Baptist society of Dedham and 
Medfield was incorporated by the General Court. A com- 
mittee from the General Court visited the parish, and a 
committee from the parish waited upon it ; but nothing 
could be done to prevent a final separation of the two so- 
cieties. Why there should have been a division of the par- 
ish it is now difficult to understand. The first cause of a 
difference of opinion was with reference to building a new 
house. A considerable number, including Mr. Thacher, 
thought it better to repair the old house. When it was 
decided to build, the question of locality was an immediate 
cause of trouble. The longer it was discussed, the greater 
became the differences of opinion, and the more bitter the 
feelings engendered. The determination of the majority to 
adhere to the spot chosen, and the making of the first tax 
for building the new house in an illegal manner, added fuel 
to the flame. The whole trouble, in a word, was between 
the inhabitants of the eastern and the western parts of the 
parish, as to which should have the house in their own local- 
ity. This is plainly indicated by the fact that, of the forty- 
four persons signing the protest of 1807, thirty-three lived in 
the western part of the parish. At this time, the roads were 
so located that either party would have been better accom- 
modated by the locality it preferred. Had Nahatan Street 
existed when it was first proposed to build, it is possible 
that the causes of division would have been prevented. 

Still another cause of the failure of all efforts at reconcili- 



88 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

ation was the fact that the parish officers attempted to en- 
force by the power of the law the collection of the taxes 
assessed. Those not paying- were carried to jail, and the 
feeling of enmity was deepened thereby. Tradition has it 
that one man who was arrested lay down on the ground, 
and had to be loaded into a wagon in order to his removal 
to the jail. Another was opportunely engaged in shingling 
his barn at this time ; and, whenever the constable appeared 
for his arrest, he was very busily employed on the topmost 
part of the roof. When the constable informed him of the 
errand on which he had come, the delinquent replied that 
the officer was at liberty to take him where he was. On 
several occasions, the constable found it prudent to give up 
his task.* The majority of the parish undoubtedly pre- 
ferred the locality chosen, but more of the spirit of compro- 
mise on their part would have prevented a division of the 
parish. 

When those who had become members of the Baptist 
church in Medfield were dismissed in 1824 to form the 
"First Baptist Church in Dedham," an account was given, 
on the first pages of the church book of tlpe new church, of 
the causes which led to the division of the Clapboard Trees 
parish. The writer was perhaps the Rev. Samuel Adlam, 
the first pastor of the Baptist society. He wrote of the sep- 
aration as a remarkable instance of the workings of Provi- 
dence in bringing men to a knowledge of evangelical truth, 
when they did not desire it. The historical part of this doc- 
ument is here reproduced, for the sake of the light it throws 
on the causes of the separation. It too strongly empha- 
sizes the lack of evangelical preaching in the parish, for Mr. 
Thacher was by no means wanting in piety and religious 
devotion. Those seceding from the parish joined the Bap- 
tists because they were not strong enough to support a 
preacher among themselves, because they could not be 
formed into a distinct Congregational parish, and because 
the Baptist society at Medfield afforded them the only oppor- 

*Another of the Seceders, who finally relumed to the old parish, said tliat he remained with 
the Baptists " as long as he could keep up the mad." 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 89 

tunity within reach for connecting themselves with any 
other religious body. 

The origin of the Baptist church in Dedham strikingly illustrates the 
providence and sovereignty of God, showing how easy it is for him to 
place his throne in the midst of his foes, and how he lays hold of the 
actions of men, without their intention or suspicion, to promote his gos- 
pel in the world. The West parish had for a long series of years heard 
nothing except it were Arminian or Socinian preaching ; and so firmly 
was it established that there is no instance known of its truth being 
doubted, except by some who verged nearer to infidelity than anything 
else. . . . The parish was what would by some be called moral; that is, 
some attended the meeting house constantly, others occasionally, and 
others very seldom. Theft, drunkenness and swearing, except the lat- 
ter, was not common ; but tlien, no one thought religion should occupy 
too much of their thoughts, and balls and cards were thought innocent 
for church members. 

In this state, with the usual variation of character found in large par- 
ishes they continued perfectly united, and strongly opposed to anythino- 
like evangelical doctrine. But in the year 1S07 it was contemplated to 
erect a new meeting house, when disputes arose concerning the spot of 
its location. The parish was divided, one party contending for one spot, 
and the other for another. Meeting after meeting was held, but no ad- 
justment could be made. Disputes, animosities and determined oppo- 
sition succeeded, when one party gaining by an inconsiderable majority 
the victory, the other felt insulted in such a manner that they knew not 
how to brook it. Retaining their feelings, but concealing their inten- 
tion they determined to erect themselves into a separate society; and 
accordingly, when the old meeting-house was sold, as was expected, for 
a barn or some other unimportant purpose, a committee was secretly in- 
structed to purchase it. This event quickened the feelings which it was 
hoped some months had allayed; each one declared himself for one 
party or the other, and opposition, triumph and revenge actuated both. 

Two distinct parties now were established, though no variation of 
feeling or judgment upon any religious subject existed. The offended 
party held a number of meetings to consult what denomination they 
should call themselves, when it was decided they should unite them- 
selves with the Baptist society in Medfield. . . . Not one of them was con- 
verted, not one was friendly to evangelical truth, not one but despised 
and hated the sentiments of the Baptists ; and yet these men solicited 
union with a society poor and despised holding these sentiments. . . . 

When a union was effected with Medfield, part of the society went 
regularly to that place upon the Sabbath day; but their new doctrine 
gave great offense to some. . . . Then could they have repented of their 
choice had not persecution, by, taking their property and lodging their 



90 THE CLAPBOARD TRKICS PAKISIT 

persons in prison for ministerial taxes, made them determined to submit 
to anything rather than reunite with those who endeavored to oppress 
them in the extreme. 

In i8i I, those who remained members of the Clapboard 
Trees parish contributed to a fund for the support of preach- 
ing. The contributions ranged from ten to one hundred 
dollars, and the contributors numbered about forty-five per- 
sons. The following are their names and the sums con- 
tributed, as given in the first report of the trustees of the 
fund thus created : — 

Rev. Thomas Thacher, $100.00 

John Fisher, 100.00 

Willard Gay, 100.00 

John Baker, 50.00 

George Ellis 50.00 

Benjamin Fisher, 77 00 

Benjamin Boyden, 3S-00 

Samuel French, 25.00 

Lemuel Thwing, 25.00 

Eaton Whiting, . 1666 

Jes«e Warren, 25.00 

John Richards, Jr., 100.00 

Jotham Richards, 25.00 

Jotham Richards, for his father, .... 75.00 

Nathaniel Whiting, 33-34 

Thaddeus Gay, 16.66 

Moses Kingsbury, 16.67 

Jeremiah Baker 100.00 

Phinehas Ellis, 85.00 

Frederick Richards, 35-oo 

Eliphalet Rhodes, Jr., 25.00 

Abijah Parker, 16.66 

Robert Steel, 25.00 

Jason Ellis, 50.00 

David Boyd, 16.66 

Edv^fard Glover, 1666 

Joel Everett, 32.00 

Abel Richards, Jr. 16.66 

Moses Gay, ^;^.^2 

Hannah Gay, 11.00 

Moses Richards, 16.66 

John Richards, 25.00 



.Sarah Richards 



25.00 



Oliver Ellis 75-oo 

Lemuel Gay, 50.00 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 9 1 

William Gay, $150.00 

Richard Ellis, 25.00 

Royal Ellis, 25.00 

Willard Ellis, 25.00 

Jabez Ellis, for his mother, Rebecca Ellis, . 40.00 

Benjamin Fairbanks, 75-oo 

Benjamin Fairbanks, Jr., 60.00 

Daniel Covell, 50.00 

Seth Gay, Jr., 10.00 

Lusher Gay, 100.00 

The whole amount thus subscribed was ^2,084.96. The 
first trustees of this ministerial fund were the Rev. Thomas 
Thacher, Willard Gay, George Ellis, and John Baker. The 
fund was established with the following conditions and 

regulations : — 

Dedham, April i8th, 181 r. 

We, the subscribers, taking into view the importance of supporting 
the public worship of God in the third Parish in Dedham, the pressure 
on individuals among us in performing that necessary duty by reason of 
the secession of a part of our number to the Baptists, the desire we feel 
to perpetuate a Christian Congregational Church according to the mode 
in which it has ever existed among us, do solemnly agree and bind our- 
selves to pay the several sums affixed to our names to the treasurer of 
the said third Parish in Dedham, for the purpose of supporting the Gos- 
pel and its ordinances ; the income of which shall be annually devoted 
to pay the iVIinister; and the raising of the said fund shall be executed 
according to the conditions hereafter mentioned, and subject to the reg- 
ulations here expressed : 

First ; that the sum subscribed shall be placed at lawful interest, and 
the interest devoted forever for the annual support of a gospel minister 
of the Congregational denomination. 

Second; that the house of public worship shall continue, and when 
necessary a new one to be built, on the spot where the present house 
now stands or within fifty rods thereof. 

Thirdly ; any subscriber who may desire it shall be entitled to the 
loan of such sum of money a*s he may subscribe, by giving his note 
therefor to the parish treasurer, and paying the interest thereof an- 
nually; but if such subscriber or subscribers shall neglect to pay the 
interest on such note for the space of thirty days after it falls due, they 
shall thereupon become liable to pay the principle on demand, and it 
shall be the duty of the trustees hereinafter named forthwith to compel 
payment of the same. 

Fourthly ; all monies paid to the treasurer of said parish shall be 
loaned on land security ; and in case the debtor shall neglect to pay the 



92 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

interest on such loan for the space of thirty days after it falls due, it 
shall be the duty of the said trustees to compel payment of the prin- 
cipal. 

Fifthly ; the settled minister, the treasurer and parish committee of 
said parish shall be a board of trustees for the purpose of managing said 
fund, and under the regulations and subject to the conditions herein 
contained shall have the entire control thereof; but in case they shall 
presume to appropriate either the principal or the annual interest to any 
other purpose than that herein before mentioned they shall be jointly 
and severally answerable to the parish therefor out of their own estates 
and effects. 

Sixthly; the said trustees shall at the annual parish meeting lay be- 
fore the people the state of this fund. 

Seventhly ; in case the parish shall be destitute of a settled minister 
for a term not less than one year nor more than six years, the income of 
this fund shall be reserved by the trustees for the use of the next set- 
tled minister, and put out to interest in the same manner as the prin- 
cipal is till a minister shall be settled and then paid over to him in such 
sums and in such manner annually as the trustees see fit for his annual 
salary, and not for any other purpose. 

Eighthly; in case there shall be no settled minister the treasurer and 
parish committee shall be the sole trustees of this fund, and the surviv- 
ors of them in case any of them should die within the year for which 
they are chosen; and in case the parish should neglect to choose parish 
officers, and the said offices should be vacant, such of the donors or their 
heirs as are legal voters within the parish, shall be authorized to appoint 
trustees to manage said fund in conjunction with the minister, if at such 
time there shall be a settled minister in the parish, if otherwise such 
trustees shall have the entire control thereof, subject to the conditions 
and regulations aforesaid. 

Ninthly ; in case the parish should apply the said fund or the interest 
thereof to any other purpose than the one before mentioned, or place the 
house of worship at a greater distance than fifty rods from where it now 
stands, or shall be destitute of a settled minister for the space of six 
years or over, then the whole of the said fund, together with the interest 
that may have accrued after the parish ceased to have a settled minister 
shall be forfeited, and the said parish shall be liable to pay to the said 
donors or their heirs in a right descending line, who may then be inhabi- 
tants of said parish, the several sums by them or by their ancestors sub- 
scribed ; and in case any one of the said subscribers at the time of such 
forfeiture shall not be living nor have any such heir or heirs in the right 
descending line living within the parish, then the sum or sums by such 
donor or donors subscribed, shall be appropriated as a fund for the sup- 
port of a school within the parish and the interest thereof applied for 
tiiat purpose forever. 



THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE 93 

Tenthly; the proprietors, should the majority of them think best, 
may within two years from this date, viz., April, eighteen hundred and 
eleven, get incorporated, and alter the management of their property in 
this fund in its circumstances and forms ; but the essentials of it, as 
comprised in its application and design, shall not be altered. 



JL 



VITI. 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER. 

Thomas Thacher was born in Boston, Oct. 24, 1756. 
His father was Oxenbridge Thacher, a successful and well- 
known lawyer of that city, who was for many years a mem- 
ber of the General Court, and was so at the time when 
the Clapboard Trees parish was established. The Thacher 
family had long been a prominent one in Boston. The 
great-grandfather of Thomas was the Rev. Thomas Thacher, 
the first mmister of the Old South Church in Boston, whose 
son, Peter Thacher, was the first minister in Milton. He 
was also descended from John Oxenbridge, who was a pastor 
of the first church in Boston. 

When Thomas Thacher was nine years old, his father died ; 
and he found a home with his grandfather, " who was a man 
of public education and usefulness." It is said that in early 
life "he evinced much more than ordinary force of intellect ; 
but it was combined with an imprudent, reckless spirit, that 
gave little promise of either respectability or usefulness." 
At the age of fifteen, however, he entered Harvard College, 
and was a successful student, graduating in 1775. 

After graduation, he spent some time in teaching; and 
then he began his studies in preparation for the ministry, 
which he seems to have carried on under the guidance of the 
Rev. Dr. Cummings, of Billerica. He became the minister 
of the Clapboard Trees parish at the age of twenty-four, and 
under conditions favorable to his success. It is said of him, 
however, in Sprague's Annals of the Unitarian Pulpit, that 
"the indiscretions and follies of his youth had awakened 
strong prejudices against him, so that his ministry did not 
begin under the fairest auspices." If he had such a reputa- 
tion as is thus indicated, it was doubtless owing to his love 



REV. THOMAS THACHKK, THE THIRD MINISTER 95 

of mirth and wit ; but he had already made a good impres- 
sion in other churches before he accepted the invitation to 
Dedham. 

The best account of the person of Mr. Thacher is given 
by the Rev. Samuel Osgood, who says that he "was a man 
of a portly and commanding figure, and had a face expressive 
of much more than common intellectual power. His man- 
ners were sufihciently free and cordial, but somewhat blunt, 
and indicative of what he really possessed, — great indepen- 
dence of character. You could not meet him in the most 
casual interview without perceiving that he had not the fear 
of man before his eyes. He had great power of sarcasm ; 
and he indulged it sometimes, perhaps, without the most deli- 
cate regard to circumstances. But there was a manifest 
openness and honesty of purpose that all recognized as a 
redeeming feature, and as rendering less objectionable that 
unceremonious bluntness, and even severity, which could 
hardly fail sometimes to give offence." 

The account of him given by his successor is needed to 
supplement this by Dr. Osgood, which evidently applied 
only to one side of Mr. Thacher's character. " He pos- 
sessed," says Mr. White, "intellectual powers far above the 
ordinary level. He was able to take comprehensive views 
and could express them in strong and clear language. He 
could be severe or pathetic, as occasion required. As no 
one could long be in his presence, so no one could peruse 
his writings, without being convinced of his mental energy. 
Possessed of strong moral feeling, he could not look upon 
vice but with the strongest abhorrence ; and when he took 
the lash he used it with no feeble strokes. He was ardent 
in his friendship, kind, and ready to sympathize with the 
distressed. Did he by any harsh or hasty expression wound 
any one's feelings, he was ever ready to make apology to 
the injured. He did not think it a mark of a great mind 
never to confess a fault ; nor did he disdain to ask pardon 
for the wrong he might have done. He sought the things 
which make for peace." 

Mr. Thacher evidently was a man with a vigorous mind, 



96 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

cast in an original mould, so that he thought and acted for 
himself. He had too little respect for the conventionalities 
of society, and often acted from the fresh impulses of a nat- 
ure that was full of strong purposes. He was possessed of 
a very active sense of humor, and often spoke and acted 
without a nice regard to the proprieties of social intercourse. 
His sympathy was always active, and he was very charitable 
and generous. A public-spirited citizen he was on all occa- 
sions, being greatly interested in all town affairs, and in the 
politics of the State and nation. He was in every way the 
leader of his people, and to him they went for advice on sub- 
jects of every kind. To a shrewd and capable common 
sense, he added an acquaintance with affairs and a knowl- 
edge of every subject connected with the activities of a 
country parish. He could settle disputes between his par- 
ishioners, tell his neighbors what breed of swine to raise, 
advise his friends as to the best way in which to cast their 
votes, talk with the Cambridge men on science and the 
classics, and discuss with his ministerial brethren, in a man- 
ner of uncommon vigor, all the questions of theology. It 
has been related by a former member of the parish, who has 
only recently passed away,* that on one occasion a parish- 
ioner was asked who was to be voted for at the coming 
town meeting; and the reply was that "he had not yet 
asked Parson Thacher." • 

In every way, Mr. Thacher was a typical country minister 
of the kind so common in New England in the last century. 
In a gentle and noble way, he was the autocrat of his parish, 
ruling it with a rod of love and good-will, with the consent 
and desire of his people, but ruling it with no uncertain pur- 
pose. Then the minister was the educated man of a country 
parish, and the man in all things the best capable of guiding 
his fellows. He was a farmer, tilling his own land, often 
getting a goodly portion of his income by his activities as a 
man of business ; and in many ways he was the most stir- 
ring and capable man in the parish. He looked after the 
interests of the schools ; and he did not forget to admonish 
and advise, and to chastise with his tongue, the younger 

•Mr. Jeremiah W. Gay. 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER 97 

portion of his people. Such a man made his influence felt 
in every part of his parish, and he knew every member of it 
in the most intimate manner. He was respected and ven- 
erated by his people, and by many of them he was loved 
with generous affection. 

As a preacher, Mr. Thacher was marked for good sense, 
clear thought, and an earnest purpose. He studiously 
avoided all efforts at arousing the feelings to an undue pitch, 
and he equally avoided everything like undue enthusiasm 
and excess in religion. The school of theologians to which 
he belonged cultivated a calm and deliberate manner of 
preaching that applied itself to reason far more than to emo- 
tion. He appealed to experience, to history, to common 
sense, and to the practical judgment of his people, in his 
discourses, and not to dogmas or religious feelings. Every- 
thing in the shajje of excitement and fervor he rigidly dis- 
carded as unworthy of men who would worship God in spirit 
and in truth. 

"As a preacher," says Dr. Samuel Osgood, "he had none 
of the graces of rhetoric, or other qualities fitted to render 
him especially popular ; but he had a vein of strong sense, 
which gave him considerable favor with persons of reflection 
and intelligence." There was probably little of unction and 
magnetism in his preaching, and little that aroused and 
moved a congregation ; but there was wholesome teaching, 
that left its deep results on thought and life, and that helped 
to mould the purpose and the conduct of the thoughtful. 
His sermons were carefully planned, thoroughly wrought 
out, written in a good and clear style, and had a distinct 
end and purpose in view. 

It may truly be said of Mr. Thacher that he was given to 
hospitality ; and it is the social side of his character which 
is the most fully remembered in the parish. It was his 
usual custom to invite several of his parishioners to his 
house to dine after the morning service, saying to them 
that they must expect "pot luck." On Sunday evenings, 
his people were wont to gather at his house, and there to 
discuss the affairs of the parish, or whatever else was upper- 



98 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

most in their minds. " Hospitality," said one of his minis- 
terial friends, "was a prominent trait in his character. 
This is a tribute which all who were conversant with him 
will cheerfully pay. It was a virtue in which he excelled." 
The same friend says that " he possessed a high and delicate 
sense of honor, and was susceptible of the tenderest sym- 
pathy. To the distressed and needy, he was ever ready to 
extend a benevolent arm, and to open the charitable hand. 
In a remarkable degree, he was kind to the poor." 

It is evident that Mr. Thacher was generous, sympathetic, 
hospitable, sociable, and a lover of wit and fun. His jokes, 
witticisms, odd speeches, and droll actions have been more 
fully remembered in the parish than anything else about 
him. In the sermon preached at his funeral, already quoted, 
this was said : " There was sometimes a want of uniformity 
and evenness in his deportment, and his passions evidently 
partook of the strength of his mind. His sensibility was 
c|uick and keen. Like the musical instrument, it obeyed 
the touch ; and, in the warmth of the moment, he was apt 
to be warm in his expressions. By a sudden impulse of 
feeling, and from a native frankness and openness of mind, 
he was sometimes betrayed into extremes, when it is pre- 
sumed no moral evil was intended, when his heart meant 
not to be wrong. Under such strong excitements, he was 
tempted to unguarded licenses, which, in cooler moments, 
he pretended not to justify." This strong temper, joined 
with his drollery and dislike of conventionality, made Mr. 
Thacher a man of a marked character, and one long to be 
remembered. 

For many of his parishioners he had a nickname, indica- 
tive of character. Another oddity of his was to call his 
pitchers by the names of lady members of his congregation. 
He even carried his love of joking into the pulpit ; for, when 
he was observed smiling frequently one afternoon during 
the delivery of the sermon, he was asked the occasion, and 
replied, "Why, I was preaching the very same sermon, 
word for word, this afternoon, that I preached in the inorn- 
ing ; and I was laughing to see how gravely you took it, — 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER 99 

just as if you had never heard it before." The sharpness of 
his wit was sometimes cutting, as when he said of a woman 
in the parish, " If the Lord should send for the greatest 
slut on earth, I should tremble for my neighbor's wife." 
Even more stinging was his remark, that the Baptist society 
was as necessary to his own as a sink to a house. On 
one occasion, when about going away to preach a sermon, 
he said to a workman, " I must go and preach the zvord : 
you will find the spirit in the closet." When he first came 
to preach in the parish, he said to the family of Capt. Jere- 
miah Baker, by whom he was entertained, the first morning 
after breakfast, " Well, I suppose I must play a tune on 
that old fiddle of yours." Then he took up the Bible, read 
a chapter, and offered prayer. His wit seems sometimes to 
have aroused the wit of his neighbors, and on one occa- 
sion a parishioner quite got the better of him in a wit com- 
bat. He named one of his swine after a parishioner he did 
not hold in high esteem. The parishioner retorted by 
sketching a pig-pen, with Mr. Thacher standing by it, and 
uttering this couplet : — 

" My office, though sacred and divine, 
I now have left to christen swine." 

There can be no doubt he would have thoroughly enjoyed 
the spirit of one event, which, says tradition, happened 
during his ministry in the parish. One of his young men 
wished to marry a young woman who lived in Walpole, and 
he was very anxious to have Mr. Thacher perform the mar- 
riage service. The tradition says that the law did not per- 
mit a minister to go out of his own town to officiate on such 
occasions, and that the service must be performed in the 
town where the bride lived. To get over these difficulties, 
the parties concerned proceeded to Bubbling Brook, where 
the happy couple stood on the Walpole side, and Mr. Thacher 
on the Dedham side, and the marriage took place. 

It is also related of him that he on one occasion exchanged 
with Mr. Buckminster, of the Brattle Street Church, Boston. 
A number of young men were in the habit of attending that 



lOO THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

church, who did not care to hear any one but the pastor, and 
were accustomed to leave the church if any other minister 
appeared in the pulpit. This occurred on the day when Mr. 
Thacher preached, and he happened to notice it. At his 
nephew's, during the intermission, he mentioned what had 
taken place, and said, " I have, at least, shown myself pos- 
sessed of one apostolic gift to-day, — that of casting out 
devils." This story is told in a somewhat different form, in 
which this remark is said to have been made in the First 
Parish Church, Dedham. During the fierce political discus- 
sions of the early years of the Republic, he preached a ser- 
mon there that was extremely partisan in its character, as 
he was strongly devoted to the principles of the Federalist 
party, and not at all disinclined to give strong expression to 
his opinions. A number of persons arose and went out of 
church. Mr. Thacher stopped, and said, " I see that I have, 
at least, one apostolic gift, — -the power to cast out devils." 
It is possible that both of these incidents are true, and either 
is true enough to have been highly characteristic. Thomas 
Thacher was a man of wider reading and greater intel- 
lectual power than his brother Peter, who preached in Bos- 
ton, although the latter was the more polished and eloquent 
of the two. Being a popular preacher, many of Peter's ser- 
mons were printed ; and he was in the habit of sending 
them to his brother. On one occasion, when Peter was on 
a visit to Thomas, he took up, in his brother's study, a vol- 
ume labelled TrasJi. "What is this book called Tras/i?" 
asked Peter. " Look and see for yourself," was the reply. 
After glancing through it, Peter exclaimed, " Why, you dog, 
it is my sermons ! " 

He was sometimes in the habit of preparing his own 
meals, with the aid of his students. One morning, after 
the steak had been well put on the coals, he said to the 
boys, "You watch, and Pll pray." When quite a young 
man, he was one day at the house of a relative in Milton, 
when a lady asked him what profession he intended to 
choose. When he replied that he was to be a minister, she 
expressed some doubt of his fitness for that calling. He 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER lOI 

said to her, " Madam, I shall some day preach in Milton ; and 
I will make you weep." It is said that this really hap- 
pened a few years later. A tradition of the parish says that 
Mr. Thacher was engaged in marriage to a young lady, who 
finally discarded him for some other lover ; and this is said 
to have been the reason why he did not marry, for his 
disappointment made him resolve he would not expose 
himself to another failure. He was engaged to be mar- 
ried ; for the town records contain this entry under the 
head of " Intentions of Marriage " : " Rev. Thomas Thacher 
and Miss Catherine Fuller, both of Dedham, Nov. 20, 
1783." They also reveal the fact that she was the daughter 
of Hezekiah and Anne Fuller, and that she was born July 
12, 1764. A little farther on is this entry, also under the 
head of " Intentions of Marriage," which seems to explain 
why Mr. Thacher did not marry: "The Rev. Ebenezer 
Wight of Boston and Miss Catherine Fuller of Dedham, 
October 22, 1785." Miss Catherine was young in 1783, 
and the oddities of her reverend lover may have frightened 
her. It is said, by way of tradition in the parish, that she 
visited Mr. Thacher's house just before the marriage was to 
have taken place, that she carelessly soiled her dress on 
some fresh paint, and that he became very angry with her, 
so much so that she discarded him. 

These anecdotes, with others of a similar character, have 
been repeated in the parish until they have become familiar 
to every one. All who knew him delighted to repeat them, 
and to describe his manner of life at his own home and in 
the parish. Even now, he is familiarly spoken of as "Parson 
Thacher"; and his influence is yet strongly felt throughout 
the parish. 

It would not be just to Mr. Thacher, however, to judge 
him by such anecdotes as these ; for they do not represent 
him at his best. The most they do is to give us a hint of 
his every-day character, as he often appeared to his parish- 
ioners during the week. He seems never to have had that 
strained dignity and that forced seriousness whicli some 
ministers cultivated in the olden times, and he did not 
pretend to a solemnity which was not natural to him. 



102 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

Mr. Thacher was a fine classical scholar, and well trained 
in the knowledge of his day. He was familiar with the 
Greek and Latin classics, and often drew his illustrations 
from the best ancient authors and from the history of 
Greece and Rome. In his day, the classical authors were 
as familiar as the Bible to educated men ; and his sermons 
testify that he had read them with interest and zeal. A 
quotation from Shakspere and one from Montesquieu, as well 
as from other modern poets and essayists, indicate that he 
read outside the subjects of the mere student. He was 
well read in history, and he was familiar with the political 
science of his day. His scholarship was such that he was 
made a member of the American Academy of Arts and 
Sciences. It is also said that "his writings and his conver- 
sation were much valued by learned men." In the year 
1805 he delivered the Dudleian lecture in Cambridge, and in 
1807 he gave the address at the dedication of the Milton 
Academy. These are indications that he was respected for 
his scholarship on the part of his friends. During the 
greater part of his residence in the parish, he was in the 
habit of taking boys into his house, who were prepared by 
him for entering Harvard College. In this work of teaching, 
he was successful, being "an able and useful instructor." 
He also prepared young men for the ministry, and with un- 
usual success. Among the men he trained in theology was 
Joseph Tuckerman, whose ordination sermon he preached 
at Chelsea in 1801, and w^ho became widely known as the 
founder of the ministry at large in Boston. 

No subject interested Mr. Thacher more than the welfare 
of his country. In 1788, he was chosen a member of the 
State convention, which was called for the purpose of ratify- 
ing the national Constitution. His colleague from Dedham 
was Fisher Ames, a young man of his own age, who first 
gained his reputation at this time. Mr. Ames spoke on 
biennial elections, and Mr. Thacher also addressed the con- 
vention in a speech in favor of adopting the Federal Con- 
stitution. In his Thanksgiving sermon of 1795, his Fast 
Day sermons of 1808 and 18 12, his eulogy of Washington 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER IO3 

in 1800, his sermon on the death of Samuel Adams in 1803, 
and his general election .sermon of 1811, given before the 
governor, his council, and the two houses of the legislature, 
his patriotism and his anxious desire for the welfare of the 
Republic are fully made manifest. He thoroughly believed 
in American ideas and institutions, and he deprecated the 
great political discords then so common and so threatening. 
The following is a list of the sermons, lectures, and ad- 
dresses delivered by Mr. Thacher, and afterwards published, 
as contained in an appendix to the funeral sermon by the 
Rev. Stephen Palmer. It is believed that everything he 
published is here enumerated. 

I. — A Sermon upon Coloss. 3, 12, February 23, 1784. 

2. — Speech in Convention, in favour of adopting the Federal Consti- 
tution, A. D. 1788. 

3. — A Thanksgiving Sermon, February 19, 1795. 

4. — A Sermon on the death of the Rev. Nathaniel Robbins of Mil- 
ton, May 24, 1795. 

5. — A Sermon delivered in the Episcopal Church, in Dedham, on 
the festival of Christmas, December 25, 1797. 

6. — A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Elijah Dunbar, at 
Peterborough, (N. H.) October 23, 1799. 

7. — A Sermon upon Ephesians ii. 8, delivered at Peterborough, the 
Lord's day after Mr. Dunbar's Ordination, October 27, 1799. 

8.— Eulogy on Gen. Washington, delivered in Dedham, February 
22, 1800. 

9. — A Discourse before the Humane Society, June 18, 1800. 

10. — A Sermon upon Psalm Ixxvili. 4, giving an historical sketch of 
the third Parish in Dedham, January 11, iSoi. ^ 

II. — A Sermon upon the danger of despising the divine counsel, de- 
livered at Dedham, third Parish, the Lord's day after tlie execution of 
Jason Fairbanks, September 13, 1801. 

12.— -A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Joseph Tuckerman, at 
Chelsea, November 4, 1801. 

13.— A Sermon on the death of Governor Adams, delivered at Ded- 
ham, third Parish, the next Lord's day after his interment, October, 1803. 
14. — A Sermon at the Dudleian Lecture, May 8, 1805. 
15. — A Discourse at the dedication of Milton Academy, September 
9, 1807. 

16. — A Sermon on the Public Fast, April 14, 1S08. 

17.— A Biographical Memoir of the Rev. Samuel West, D. D., 1S08. 



I04 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

i8. — A Sermon on taking leave of the old meeting-house in the third 
Parish in Dedham, February 26, i8oy. 

19. — A Sermon at the Dedication of the new meeting-house in the 
third Parish in Dedham, March i, 1809. 

20. — A Sermon at the General Election, May 29, 181 1. 

21. — A Sermon at the Funeral of the Rev. Jabez Chickering, March 
\6, 1812. 

22. — A Sermon on the Public Fast, April 9, i<Si2. 

In theology, Mr. Thacher belonged to that liberal school 
of preachers which was represented in Boston by the 
younger Buckminster, William Emerson, and S. C. Thacher. 
These men had modified and humanized the Calvinism of 
the Puritans, omitted its rigid doctrine of election, quieted 
the fires of its hell, and made Jesus subordinate to the 
Father. They regarded Christianity as a divine and authen- 
ticated revelation, they took the Bible as their creed, and 
they made the gospel of Jesus the way of salvation here and 
hereafter. Their preaching was gentle and moral, and they 
left all men to search the Bible for themselves. " In his 
theological sentiments," it was said of Mr. Thacher, " he 
called no man master. No one was ever more pointedly 
opposed to uninspired creeds and formularies than he. He 
took the Bible exclusively for his guide, and examined and 
thought for himself." This was precisely the attitude of 
the early Unitarians, and to this party he was affiliated by 
all his thoughts and tendencies. It will have been seen that 
he did not in any degree sympathize with infidelity or with 
any loosening of tlie old bonds of religion. He believed in 
the Church, in the Bible, and in Christianity with all the 
vigor of his earnest nature. His desire was to make relig- 
ion simple and pure, and to give it the real gospel spirit. 
He did have, however, a strong dislike of Calvinism. In 
his memoir of the Rev. Samuel West, who was for many 
years the minister in Needham, and subsequently settled 
over the Hollis Street Church in Boston, he spoke of Cal- 
vinism as "a gloomy, contracted system of divinity." In 
the ordination sermon of the Rev. Joseph Tuckerman in 
Chelsea, he said of the Puritans, "We lament that they 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER 10$ 

carried intolerance to a very blameable extent, that they 
were tinctured with bigotry, and that they were too fond of 
the dogmas of Calvin." In his will, he also gave expression 
in very strong terms to his dislike and his distrust of all 
who teach religion in a gloom}^ and bigoted spirit. 

Where Mr. Thacher first lived when he came to the parish 
is not known, but possibly it may have been in the house 
which the parish gave to Mr. Tyler. After he had been 
settled four years, in the spring of 1784 he purchased of 
Joseph Onion the house now owned by the Rev. Calvin S. 
Locke, and situated about twenty rods directly east of the 
meeting-house. On the 14th of April in that year, the par- 
ish voted to give him the liberty of cutting timber on the 
parish lands for sills for his house, which would indicate 
that the house was enlarged by him when he took posses- 
sion of it. In connection with the house, Mr. Thacher pur- 
chased a small farm ; and his varied duties included those 
of a farmer as well as those of a teacher and a minister. 

On the 19th of October, 18 12, Mr. Thacher died. He 
was only fifty-six years of age, and he had always been in 
vigorous health until within a few months of his death. 
During the summer of that year, he was not able to preach ; 
and his pulpit was supplied by his friends, the ministers of 
the neighboring" churches. 

The loss of two of his intimate friends, as well as a fatal 
accident happening to one of his pupils, are said to have 
helped on that depression of spirit which joined with disease 
to take him away at so early an age. His funeral discourse 
was preached by his friend, the Rev. Stephen Palmer, of 
Needham, who paid a worthy tribute to his memory. " He 
was a burning and a shining hght," said his eulogist ; " and 
you were willing to rejoice in his light for a season, and 
ought still to rejoice that it shone so long. To you, he was 
an affectionate minister. He took a lively interest in your 
feelings, and was devoted to your prosperity and welfare. 
It was the unfeigned desire of his heart to build you up 
in temporal as well as in spiritual things. You have been 
much honored, and, I will hope, equally profited, by his 



I06 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

labors. It now remains that you profit by his death. He 
expressed an anxious concern for your peace and religious 
welfare, when he should' be gone." 

By his will, Mr. Thacher left the larger part of his prop- 
erty to the parish with which he had been connected for 
more than thirty-two years. His gift included his farm of 
twenty acres and about three hundred and fifty dollars of 
personal property, in all amounting to three thousand dol- 
lars. He had already contributed liberally towards the 
l)uilding of the meeting-house, to the establishment of a min- 
isterial fund, and to other objects calculated to promote the 
welfare of the parish. He had a strong affection for his 
people, and he had no stronger desire than to secure their 
prosperity. The conditions on which he left his property 
to the parish indicate how keenly he had felt the secession 
of a part of his parishioners, and how warmly he was op- 
posed to the more rigid forms of religion taught in the 
New England churches. There follows, word for word, the 
text of his will, in full : — 

In the name of the Eternal God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 
first born of every creature, and the Savior of mankind ; Amen. 

I, Thomas Thacher, of Dedhara, in the county of Norfolk and Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, clerk, being through divine goodness of 
sound mind and health, and considering the uncertainty of life, do con- 
stitute and ordain this to be my last will and testament. 

Imprimis. I commend my spirit unto the hands of God who gave 
it, not doubting but that I shall be judged by a being of infinite wisdom 
and boundless benevolence, who will require no more of me than what 
he doth enable me to perform, and will measure his final judgment, 
not by the faith of gloomy and perverse bigots (who sacrilegiously as- 
sume the prerogatives of heaven, and with an equal degree of folly 
and presumption, decide on the future fates of mankind,) but by the 
everlasting principles of truth and goodness, by the rank which I have 
held in his creation and by the relation which I bear to him and his 
offspring. 

My body I commend to the dust in sure and certain hope of the 
resurrection and a future life. And as the desire of preserving some 
frail memorial of our name and actions is common to humanity, it is 
my will and request, that a plain monument be erected over my grave, 
with a Latin inscription which I shall enclose in this instrument. Fur- 
thermore, it is my will that, after my just debts and funeral charges shall 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER lO/ 

have been defrayed, the remaining property shall be disposed of in the 
following manner : 

Item. I give and bequeath to my nephew, P. O. Thacher, Esq., of 
Boston in the county of Suffolk, the sum of one thousand dollars. I 
also give and commit to his care all my manuscripts which I shall 
leave at my decease ; and it is my request that he burn or destroy all 
such as are unfinished or imperfect. I also will and direct that if my 
nephew, P. O. Thacher, wishes for any part of my library or household 
furniture as a part of the legacy aforesaid, that he have liberty to take 
it at a fair appraisement. 

Item. I give and bequeath to my friend, Nathan P. West, of Boston, 
the sum of fifty dollars, to be laid out in silver plate in such way and 
manner as he may direct ; and to his brother, Benjamin West, of Boston, 
I give and bequeath a gold ring and breast-pin bequeathed to me by the 
Hon. S. Dexter, Esq. 

Item. I give and bequeath to the third parish in Dedham, usually 
called Clapboard trees, all my real estate which shall remain after the pay- 
ment of my just debts and the legacies mentioned in this instrument, 
provided they comply with the following conditions ; first, that they pay 
in trust to P. O. Thacher, Esq., of Boston, the sum of thirty dollars 
annually during the space of ten years towards the support of my sister 
Judith Thacher, provided she so long survive after my decease. Should 
the said P. O. Thacher die before the said term of ten years expires, it 
may be paid to his executors or any person whom he may assign for 
the above mentioned purpose. Second, that all such real estate as they 
shall recieve of me shall forever be kept for the use of a parsonage and 
shall never be alienated or sold, it being my intention that it should 
remain forever for the support and maintenance of a Congregational 
minister. Also, that the net proceeds of any personal estate which they 
may recieve from me shall be added and appropriated to the parish min- 
isterial fund, so-called, in said third parish in Dedham. Third, that 
within five years of my decease they settle a minister educated at Har- 
vard College in Cambridge, and one who is not of high Calvinistic or 
Hopkinsian sentiments, and who has recieved no part of his education 
at the theological institution in Andover in Massachusetts ; also, that it 
be a condition of his settlement and continuance among them that he 
shall never preach or promote such sentiments. 

Item. I give and bequeath to Lieut. W. B. Shubrick the sum of 
twenty dollars, in testimony of my respect for him and his family, to be 
appropriated as he shall think proper. 

Item. I give and bequeath to my respected friend, Levi Hedge, 
professor at Harvard College, the sum of twenty dollars in consideration 
of many civilities and important acts of friendship. 

Item. As to the rest and residue of my estate, both real and per- 
sonal, if there sliall any remain after payment of debts, legacies and 



I08 THE CLAPBOARD IKKl'.S I'AKISH 

bequests aforesaid, I give and bequeath it to the third parish aforesaid 
in Dedham, to be used and appropriated according to the conditions 
in the above bequest to said parish. And I do hereby constitute and 
appoint my nephew, P. O. Thacher, Esq., of Boston, to be the sole exec- 
utor of this my last will and testament. 

Codicil. In addition to the above will and testament I, the sub- 
scriber, do subjoin the following codicil : 

Wiiereas, in that instrument I have given to the third parish in Ded- 
ham all my real and personal estate, after the payment of my just debts 
and legacies, to which are affixed certain conditions, for the non-per- 
formance of which no penalty or forfeiture is mentioned, I further will 
and ordain that in case the conditions aforesaid are not complied with, 
that all my estate revert and be given to my nephew, P. O. Thacher, 
Esq., of Boston, and his heirs forever. 

I furthermore constitute and appoint the members of the Supreme 
judiciary of Massachusetts to be the judges of the conditions mentioned 
in the above instrument. 

Item. 1 give and bequeath to the Rev. Stephen Palmer, of Need- 
ham, the sum of ten dollars to purchase a mourning ring. 

Item. I give and bequeath to Mr. Benjamin West, of Boston, in 
addition to the legacy mentioned in the above instrument, all the gold 
and silver apparel which I shall have at my decease. 

The coiidilion of Mr. Thacher's will, that the minister 
should never preach or promote high Calvinistic or Hopkin- 
sian beliefs, was a source of much perplexity to the parish. 
At a meeting held April 13, 18 13, a committee of two was 
appointed to secure the opinions of two eminent counselors 
on the validity of this condition. Doubts having been ex- 
pressed as to whether this condition could or ought to be 
carried into effect, this action was taken. The subject was 
again brought up in May ; and it was then dismissed, prob- 
ably because the condition was found to be obligatory. 

After the death of Mr. Thacher, the Rev. William Mon- 
tague preached for a time in supply of the pulpit. In Feb- 
ruary, 1813, the church invited Isaac Hurd to become its 
pastor; and in March the parish unanimously concurred. It 
would seem that Mr. Hurd was a, young man, and his place 
of residence was Charlestown. The people evidently thought 
well of him, and were anxious to have him for a minister ; 
but he did not like the theological restrictions placed on the 
pulpit by tlie conditions of Mr. Thacher's bequest. In his 



I 



REV. THOMAS THACHER, THE THIRD MINISTER IO9 

letter declining the call to become the minister of the parish, 
he said : — 

The unanimity you have discovered, the expressions of esteem which 
I have received during my visits among you, with other agreeable cir- 
cumstances, have served to create an attachment and to excite a lively 
interest in your welfare ; and it is not without painful feelings and the 
sacrifice of many pleasant anticipations that I am obliged from princi- 
ples of duty to return a negative answer to your call. I have, however, 
found it impossible, in the event of accepting your invitation, to remove 
all those doubts, and to possess that satisfaction of mind, which the 
consciousness of having formed a proper determination would produce, 
and which would be necessary to a faithful and cheerful discharge of 
the duties of my office. One reason which has influenced this decision 
I have made, as it is perhaps the most powerful, it may be necessary to 
state; and that arises from the conditions on which your late reverend 
pastor, Mr. Thacher, has made his bequest to the parish. The terms on 
which his donation must be received as a part of the salary of his suc- 
cesor are such that I cannot consistently with the dictates of my con- 
science accede to them. They impose that restraint upon my future 
opinions to which a regard for truth and the importance of free inquiry 
forbid me to submit. 

It is evident that at the time when he wrote this letter 
Mr. Hurd could comply with the conditions required of the 
minister who should settle with the parish ; but he was un- 
willing to pledge himself for the future, or to settle where 
such a limitation was placed on his utterance of what he 
believed to be truth. Before calling another minister, the 
parish secured a statement of these conditions from a legal 
authority, which was to be inserted in the call, so that the 
parish might secure his dismissal at any time if he violated 
the conditions of the will. 



IX. 



REV. JOHN WHITE, THE FOURTH MINISTER. 

In February, 1814, one year and a half after the death of 
Mr. Thachcr, a call was extended to John White, of Con- 
cord, to become the minister. He was offered six hundred 
dollars and ten cords of wood for his salary. The call was 
given on condition of his complying with the requirements 
of Mr. Thacher's will. In his letter of acceptance, Mr. 
White wrote : — 

As to the sentiments on religious subjects that I have expressed in 
public and in private, they are what I now concieve to be agreeable to 
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are the rule of 
faith and practice, and according to which I expect to be judged at the 
last day. Still, I would have it understood, that no pledge is given on 
my part to maintain any system of doctrine, farther than it shall appear 
at any time to be supported by the oracles of God. And if, in the 
course of my inquiries after truth, a change take place in my opinions 
concerning the import of sacred writings, I shall feel myself at liberty 
to communicate them without reserve. 

Mr. White was no more willing than was Mr, Hurd to 
foreclose his mind to truth. In fact, by this time such a 
spirit had grown up in the Congregational churches of New 
England as precluded any arbitrary limitations in regard to 
free inquiry. Especially among the more liberal party, to 
which Mr. White belonged, there was entire unwillingness 
to subscribe to any doctrinal restrictions of any kind what- 
ever. While they revolted against the doctrines of Calvin, 
they did not seek for any other doctrinal statement of faith. 
This attitude of the time, and of Mr. White as one of the 
liberal party, must be taken into account, in order to under- 
stand why the parish became distinctly Unitarian under his 
ministry. 



REV. JOHN WHITE, THE FOURTH MINISTER III 

The memory of Mr. White is yet so fragrant in the parish 
it is ahnost impossible for any one to do full justice to the 
love and veneration that was and is felt for him. No state- 
ment of one who did not know him can fill out the picture 
of him, which is in the minds of all who knew him in the 
flesh, and in the beautiful spirit of his daily life. He was 
ordained April 20, 18 14, the sermon being preached by his 
own pastor, the Rev. Ezra Ripley, of Concord. The charge 
was given by the Rev. George Morey, of Walpole, and the 
right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Joshua Bates, of the 
first parish in Dedham. That Mr. Bates took part in this 
service was an indication that the separation in the Congre- 
gational churches had not yet come, for he belonged to the 
stricter party. Near the end of his sermon. Dr. Ripley said 
to his young friend : — 

That mixture of diffidence and fortitude, faith and exertion, which 
has marked your approach to the solemnities of this day, exhibits your 
character in a very favorable point of light, and is a fair presage of 
future reputation and success. It is with no ordinary joy that I wel- 
come to the stated ministry one so well disposed and qualified — one so 
dear to my heart and so worthy of my esteem. From the day when you 
were publicly dedicated to God, we observed with hope and delight your 
growth in stature and in favor with God and man. Our hearts were 
gladdened by the discovery of early dispositions to the ways of wisdom ; 
and our joy was full at seeing you, while a youth, devote yourself to God 
and enlist under the banner of the cross in the bosom of the church of 
Christ. Our expectations have not been disappointed; our hopes are 
now realized by your taking part with us in the ministry of reconcilia- 
tion, the power of which, we trust, you have felt upon your own heart. 
With delightful sensibility we participate in the joy which events of this 
day must give to your particular friends, and especially to your pious 
and affectionate father, who witnesses the best fruits of his tender cares 
for you, and joyous answers to his fervent prayers in your behalf. 

At the parish meeting, when Mr. White was voted upon, 
thirty favored him, and ten were opposed. In his letter of 
acceptance, he said that he understood the opposition was 
not with reference to himself, but those who objected wished 
for more explicit terms of settlement. The committee of 
arrangements for his ordination consisted of Benjamin 



I 12 



THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 



Fisher, Capt. Jeremiah Baker, Moses Richards, Capt. Ben- 
jamin Fairbanks, Samuel Thwing, Jesse Warren, and Capt. 
Daniel Covell. Colburn P^llis was paid $5.63 for thir- 
teen half-pints of spirit and crackers and cheese for the 
singers on this occasion, according to the treasurer's ac- 
counts. It cost the parish one hundred dollars for enter- 
taining the council. 

Mr. White was born in Concord, Mass., Dec. 22, 1787. 
His father was John White, a beloved and venerated citizen 
of that place, and for many years a deacon of the church 
there. In early youth, Mr. White manifested the spirit of 

piety, and he was always 
pure and upright in his con- 
duct. His minister there 
was the Rev. Ezra Ripley, 
who was the pastor in that 
church for more than sixty 
years, and a man of an 
original and striking cast of 
mind. He was much such 
a man as Mr. Thacher, with 
\ whom he was contemporary 
at Harvard ; and all his 
excellences, faults, and wit 
have been written of in a 
tender manner by Emerson and Mr. F. B. Sanborn. Dr. 
Ripley often preached in the Clapboard Trees parish after 
Mr. White settled in it, and he is yet well remembered by 
at least one person at whose father's house he often visited.* 
Mr. White's preparatory studies were carried on at the 
seminary in Exeter, and he entered Harvard College at the 
age of thirteen. He graduated in 1805, and with a good 
reputation as a student. He was then a tutor in Bowdoin 
College for a short period. His theological studies were 
begun under the instruction of the Rev. Joseph Chickering, 
of Woburn, and were concluded under Dr. Ware in Cam- 
bridge. At this period, he held some connection with the 
college, probably as a tutor. "There I first saw him," says 

* Mrs. Merrill D. Ellis. 




THE REV. JOHN WHITE. 



REV. JOHN WHITE, THE FOURTH MINISTER II 3 

Dr. Lamson, " and I remembered well the same look, — 
grave, sincere, respectful, and full of self-respect, — which 
he never ceased to wear ; and I know how greatly he was 
esteemed by acquaintances and friends." 

All who knew Mr. White will say that he was a true min- 
ister. He was not a great preacher, had no ambition in that 
direction, did not covet distinction ; but he was thoroughly 
devoted to his work, and zealous in his love for his people. 
He was gentle, devout, sympathetic, and full of kindly feel- 
ing. Everybody loved him, and he had the good will of all 
within and without his own congregation. He was of a mild 
and forbearing spirit, even in temper, gracious in manner, 
and ready always to speak the word of peace. 

During his long settlement of thirty-eight years, the parish 
was in a condition of entire harmony. His nature was of 
that mould that he was ever the same on all occasions, had no 
ups and downs, uttered no rash words, and did nothing which 
could in any way promote discord. This had its effect on 
the parish, and helped to promote the good feeling which 
continued throughout his long ministry. Dr. Lamson paid 
a worthy tribute to his success in this direction: "A more 
peaceful ministry never existed. Through these long years, 
not a murmur of discontent has ever arisen ; no acrimony of 
feeling has ever been awakened ; there has been no angry 
controversy ; no bitterness nor strife ; no feverish restless- 
ness ; no ill-feeling ; no reproach nor recrimination. All has 
been light ; no dark cloud has risen in your sky." This was 
said by Dr. Lamson in his funeral sermon ; and he also said 
to the congregation then assembled : " You all trusted him ; 
you knew that he was your friend, that he was a kind inter- 
preter of motives and actions, that he was not one who was 
disposed easily to contract prejudices, or to have his mind 
darkened by suspicion and distrust. So he proceeded on his 
calm, even way, provoking no hostility ; for it was not easy 
to feel enmity towards such a man, — in his going out and 
coming iii, so prudent, always considerate of others' feelings, 
so just, so self-possessed, so reasonable." 

Tribute has been paid to the memory of Mr. White by Dr. 



114 1"HE CLAI'BOARD TREES PARISH 

Latnson, in his admirable funeral discourse, by the Rev. C. C. 
Sevvall, and by Mr. Locke. All that now can be said of his 
character and the admirable naHire of his ministry has been 
said by these persons. Whoever follows them must repeat in 
substance what they have said, and said in a manner very 
excellent and just. They all bear tribute to his unworldly 
and simple character, to his fidelity and uprightness, and to 
his desire to serve his fellow-men. 

During- the ministry of Mr. White, the parish became Uni- 
tarian ; but it became so without any special agitation, and 
probably without controversy or bitterness of any kind. His 
preaching was practical, and not theological ; and it was cal- 
culated to teach men how to live rather than how to settle 
disputed points in religion. People of all shades of belief 
heard his preaching, and all alike were edified by it. He 
drove no one away by what he said, because he said nothing 
at which any one could take offence. He was devout, trust- 
ing, possessed of the true spirit of a living faith ; and he 
made religion real and helpful to those who heard him. His 
aim was to develop a pure and holy living, in the gospel 
manner and purpose. He was not an aggressive Unitarian, 
sought no controversies with those of other religious profes- 
sions, and had no desire to promote the interests of a sect. 
His Unitarianism was that of the first generation of its pro- 
fessed advocates in this country, who wished to return to the 
pure and simple teachings of Jesus, and who wished to get 
rid of all theology that was in opposition to the ten com- 
mandments, the Sermon on the Mount, a pure trust in God 
and a future life, and who found in Jesus a Master to whom 
they gave the truest reverence. They took the Bible as their 
creed, and they gave it a generous and a loving interpre- 
tation. 

During Mr. White's ministry, four of his sermons were 
printed. The first of these was given before the Society 
for the Suppression of Intemperance, an auxiliary branch of 
which was organized in Dedham. This sermon was deliv- 
ered in 1 817, and was a plea for the temperance movement 
which had just begun. He was one of the vice-presidents 



REV. JOHN WHITE, THE FOURTH MINISTER TI5 

of the society to which he spoke, and he was fully in sym- 
pathy with its objects. His sermon was, in fact, an exposi- 
tion of the objects of the soc4ety and a defence of its reasons 
for being. 

His next printed sermon was preached in 1822, at the 
funeral of the Rev. Stephen Palmer, of Needham, who 
preached the funeral discourse at the death of Mr. Thacher. 
Mr. Palmer was of the more orthodox of the Congregation- 
alists, the separation between the two branches of that body 
not then having been made complete. In his sermon, Mr. 
White alluded to the Orthodoxy of his friend, and also to 
his liberality and toleration as well as to his charity of mind. 
" We have in this union," he said, " an example which, if 
followed, would present to our view the Christian world, 
like a band of brethren, not contending merely for the prev- 
alence of one system of speculative belief over another, but 
striving together in the exercise of kind affection to pro- 
mote practical godliness." 

In 1828, Mr. White preached a sermon on "The Nature 
and Extent of Christian Liberty." This was probably as 
clear and full an expression of his attitude towards the doc- 
trines of religion as he ever gave. It was an excellent 
statement of the liberal idea of the worth and need of liberty 
in religion. He maintained that there should be liberty in 
regard to the use of the external rites of religion ; that every 
individual should have the right of the free exercise of lib- 
erty in the interpretation of the Bible, no one possessing a 
claim to the privilege of dominion over his faith ; that there 
should be freedom from the dominion of sin ; and that Chris- 
tian liberty implies freedom from the condemning power of 
sin. He claimed that the doctrines most contended for 
are those enveloped in mystery and darkness, and those 
which are inferred rather than clearly stated. He held 
firmly to the Bible as the source of Christian teaching, but 
he would have men perfectly free to interpret it for them- 
selves. 

In 1836, on the occasion of the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the distinct existence of the parish, Mr, White pre- 



Il6 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

pared an historical sermon, which was soon after published. 
On account of a storm, it was not delivered on the loth of 
January, but a week later. It was the first account of the 
history of the parish, of any fulness or thoroughness, which 
had ever been prepared. It indicates much research and 
careful preparation, a use of the church and parish records 
and of such traditions as could be relied on. It includes, 
with the numerous notes which were appended, an admirable 
account of the parish and those who had lived in it. His 
estimate of the ministers who had preceded him in the par- 
ish was fair and just, and expressed in his usual charitable 
spirit. In every way, it showed his attachment to the 
parish, and his love of that which was best in its life. 
Speaking of the houses of the first settlers, several of which 
still remained in his day, he said : " We look with a sort 
of veneration upon these ancient abodes of the men and 
women of a generation long since passed away. They 
remind us of the firmness and vigor and determined spirit 
which were characteristic of their occupants. They have 
stood through the storms and sunshine of more than a hun- 
dred annual revolutions. The present strength of their 
frames makes us almost ready to believe that they may 
endure through another century. Their sturdy oaken beams 
seem to defy the tooth of time, compared with which our 
modern structures are like the vapor which appeareth for a 
little time and then vanisheth away." It was to be expected 
that Mr. White would love the sturdy and honest work of 
the first settlers, and have a feeling of firm respect for what 
they did and were. 

The peace and quietude of the parish at this period, its 
very prosperity and success, give less than ever before for 
the historian to record. The better its work is done, the 
less is there in the life of a religious society which can at- 
tract any special interest. Men and women were being 
made stronger for human duty and more worthy to serve 
God, but these things cannot be put upon record or brought 
forth to adorn the historian's page. The quiet simplicity of 
Mr. White's life left its lasting impression on his people; 



REV. JOHN WHITE, THE FOURTH MINISTER I17 

but it went evenly on from day to day, without jar or dis- 
cord. He was a true pastor and a faithful shepherd of his 
flock. 

He followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, and was 
in the habit of taking to his house a number of boys for 
private instruction in preparation for college. This work he 
carried on successfully, and it added to his moderate income 
by a method which was congenial to his nature. His house 
was the centre of the social activity of the parish. Two 
daughters were born to him, Elizabeth Jane and Delia 
Dwight. Soon after his settlement, he built a commodious 
house a few rods west of the meeting-house, now owned by 
Mr. Franklin Copeland; and there he resided until his death. 

During his ministry, he was greatly aided by his wife, to 
whom he was married Jan. i, 18 17. She was Delia Jane 
Holcomb Dwight, the daughter of Seth Dwight, of Utica, 
N.Y. ; but she had lived for many years with the Rev. Mr. 
Holcomb, of Sterling, whose wife was her aunt. She was 
eminently fitted to be the wife of a minister, for she was 
energetic, devoted, and self-possessed. She was very active 
in promoting the interests of the parish, and did not hesi- 
tate to take the lead when any hard work was to be done. 
She readily became, says Mr. Sewall, "a fit helpmate to her 
husband in all his pastoral and his domestic affairs. What- 
ever might affect any of the people, whether of joy or sor- 
row, was of interest to her, and whenever sickness, suffering, 
or bereavement became their experience, her sympathetic, 
helpful, and comforting presence was quickly afforded to 
them. But it was in her own home, in all her domestic ar- 
rangements, and in the constant demands on her there, that, 
the disposition and ability of Mrs. White were most actively 
and fully developed." Her memory is still a constant influ- 
ence in the parish, and her name is associated with many a 
benefit now enjoyed by it. 

Mrs. White, after the death of her first husband, married 
Benjamin D. Emerson, the author of a widely used arithme- 
tic, and lived in Jamaica Plain, where she resided until her 
death in 1864. One who knew her there says she was a 



Il8 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

leader in every good work, and a woman of such presence 
and influence as is rarely to be found. She was very active 
during the period of the Civil War, in promoting the in- 
terests of the Sanitary Commission and in otherwise lend- 
ing cheer and aid to the soldiers. 

After a long and prosperous ministry of thirty-eight years, 
Mr. White passed away on Sunday, Feb. i, 1852. His ill- 
ness was very brief, for he was in the pulpit only two or 
three weeks before. Three days later, the Rev. Dr. Lamson 
preached a funeral discourse, full of tender recollections, to 
a very large congregation in the meeting-house. It was a 
noble tribute to the memory of his friend. "His great ser- 
mon was his life," said the preacher; "and few, if any, ever 
preached a better." This was a true summing up of the 
career of Mr. White. Nothing more or better could be said 
about him, because this was the highest praise. "We have 
had," says Mr. Sewall, " like knowledge of no one among 
his contemporaries in the ministry, whose record was more 
entirely free from any stain of worldly ambition or of un- 
faithfulness to the highest ends and obligations of the pas- 
toral relation. His uniform singleness of purpose and ear- 
nestness of endeavor to make full proof of his ministry in 
the spiritual health and prosperity of his flock were happily 
productive of that inward peace which outlasts all human 
favor, and is infinitely better than all human applause. His 
transparent simplicity and sincerity, the calm dignity of his 
bearing, and the warmth of his affections made him a favor- 
ite with all his associates in the ministry and among his 
many friends in all the relations of life." 

On the Saturday following Mr. White's death, the CJiris- 
tian Register paid this tribute to his memory : " Mr. White 
was esteemed and beloved by all who knew him as a true 
and faithful Christian minister. In all the relations of life, 
he was a man of duty and a man of gentle affections. Many 
have enjoyed his hospitality, and some have found his house, 
in early days, when under his care as a teacher, a second 
home, where they hardly felt the want of parental care and 
tenderness. Few men have been more unostentatiously 



REV. JOHN WHITE, THE FOURTH MINISTER 1 19 

useful, and few have left behind them a memory so stainless 
and of so much substantial worth. Within the circle in 
which he moved, his loss will be deeply felt. . . . He was a 
man of meekness and humility, firm in his convictions, stead- 
fast in his purposes and affections, bearin^u; himself always 
with a dignity and grace which mark the character of the 
true Christian gentleman." 



X. 

THE BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

During the first half of the eighteenth century, the ideas 
and principles of the Baptist denomination were accepted 
by a few persons in Medfield. In 1752, seven men were 
exempted from paying the ministerial tax, because they 
formed a branch of the Baptist society in Boston. Their 
numbers increased, and in 1772 they were able to build 
a meeting-house. The church was formed in 1776, with 
twenty eight members ; and the Rev. Thomas Gair was set- 
tled as the pastor, remaining with the society until 1787- 
A period of twenty-three years followed, in which the so- 
ciety had no pastor, the pulpit being supplied. In j8io, 
the Rev. William Gammell became the settled pastor; and 
he preached on alternate Sundays in Medfield and West 
Dedham. 

Of those who seceded from the Clapboard Trees parish, 
only one man, Benjamin Colburn, joined the church in Med- 
field ; and he became a member there in 1809. In the same 
year, Lucy Colburn, Betsy Baker, and Abagail Colburn be- 
came members of the church; and in 1810 their number 
was added to by the admission of Monica Baker, Molly Ellis, 
and Hannah D. Smith. 

The account of the formation of the church given on the 
first pages of its records, already quoted, continues the nar- 
rative in the following words : — 

The ministry of Revd Mr. Pecking, then officiating at Medfield, was 
blest to the awakening and conversion of many individuals. An atten- 
tion more tlian was ever known before in this place was excited, so that 
in about two or three years several became savingly acquainted with the 
truth. 



THE BAPTIST SOCIETY 121 

Mr. Pecking not continuing in Medfield for a short time no preach- 
ing was had, till the Revd Mr. Gammell came, in whom both Medfield 
and Dedham was united. He opened the present meeting-house on 
Thanksgiving day, November i8, 1810, and continued his labors in the 
two places alternately till 1S23, when he left to take charge of the 
Baptist church in Newport, R.I. Under his ministry several were 
added to the church in Medfield, a number of whom resided in Dedham 
and other places. 

After his removal the supply of preaching was very irregular till 
Revd S. Adlam came, who preached from May 1824 every alternate 
Sabbath, with little intermission, till the close of the year, when preach- 
ing was had every Sabbath. For several reasons it was thought advisa- 
ble to have the members residing in and near Dedham formed into a 
separate church, upon which a council was called, who approved it, and 
after forming them into a church, ordained and installed S. Adlam over 
them. . . . 

The first meeting of the society in West Dedham was 
held at the meeting-house on Monday, March 15, 1824, the 
meeting having been called by a justice of the peace at 
the request of a number of persons made to him for that 
purpose. Benjamin Colburn was chosen moderator, and 
Abijah Fisher clerk. The name of "the First Baptist 
Society in Dedham " was that given in the call for the 
meeting, and it became the name of the society. The 
following persons became members of the society during 
the year 1824 : — 

Benjamin Colburn, Elisha Colburn, 

Abijah Smith, David Baker, 

Phinehas Colburn, Elisha Onion, 

Abijah Colburn, David Baker, 

Ebenezer Dean, James Pettee, 

Eliphalet Colburn, Isaacus Colburn, 

Robert Thompson, . Seth Morse, 

Jabez Boyden, John Morse, 

Moses Everett, Joel Talbot, 

Abijah Fisher, Clement Bartlett, 

Seth Gay, Robert H. Baker, 

Thacher Colburn, William Perbeck, 

Timothy Smith, Warren Colburn, 

Isaac Colburn, Nathaniel Colburn, 

Jonathan Colburn, Dwight Colburn, 

Ellis Colburn, Alvan Colburn, 



122 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

Ichabod Colburn, Moses Guild, 

Obed Baker, Calvin French, of Needhani, 

Willard Draper, Moses Gay, 

Daniel Draper, Sabin Turner. 

Andrew Lewis, 

During the next three years, the following persons also 
became members : — , 

Parker Wilson, Joseph Baker, 

Sumner Richard, Aaron Baker, 

Enoch Ellis, . Molly Fisher, 

Ebenezer Fisher, Spencer Fuller. 

The number of those interested in the Baptist church 
and society had become large enough by the year 1824 to 
warrant the formation of a distinct church. The following 
request, signed by members of the Medfield church resident 
in West Dedham and its neighborhood, was accordingly 
prepared : — 

To the Baptist Church in Medfield, 

Beloved Brethren : Believing the time is come in which 
it will be for your comfort and our prosperity, and tend to the promoting 
of the Redeemer's cause, that we be constituted into a church by the 
name of the " First Baptist Church in Dedham ; " we hereby request 
you would dismiss us who have hereunto set our names for the above 
purpose : 

Abijah Fisher, Deborah Gay, 

Polly Richards, Betsy Baker, 

Cynthia Colburn, Hannah French, 

Fanny Colburn, Lucy Mason, 

Benjamin Colburn, Molly P^isher, 

Abagail Colburn, Fanny Fisher, 

Monica Baker, Jabez Boyden, 

Mary Ellis, Sally Thompson, 

Molly Russell, Nancy Everett, 

Hannah Smith, Rene Morse, 

Betsy Colburn, Calvin French, 

Lucy Colburn, Lucy Colburn, 2d. 

Cynthia Baker, 

This request was granted by the Medfield church ; and a 
meeting of those asking for dismission to form a new church 
was held Oct. 23, 1824, when Benjamin Colburn was chosen 



THE BAPTIST SOCIETY 123 

moderator and Calvin French clerk. Articles of faith and 
a covenant were adoj^ted. The Rev. Samuel Adlam was 
asked to take oversight of the church and to receive ordina- 
tion. A council of churches and ministers assembled No- 
vember I, and formally constituted the new church and 
received it into fellowship. At the same time, Mr. Adlam 
was ordained, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. 
Wayland. 

In 1817, Mrs. Betsy Baker, wife of Obed Baker, and a 
member of the Medfield church, organized in her own house 
the first Sunday-school held in the town of Dedham. After 
several years, it met in the meeting-house ; but there was 
no fire, and it did not assemble in the winter. In 1819, 
the number of children was thirty; and the attendance 
was from thirty to forty for many years. A Sunday-school 
library was started in 1826. Mrs. Baker was not only a 
woman of much piety, but of great energy. At about this 
time she had a desire to possess a leghorn bonnet, but was 
not able to procure one. She plucked straw in the fields 
with her own hands, bleached and braided it, and made a 
bonnet for her own use. She made bonnets for neighbors, 
improved upon the first attempt, and finally led the way to 
the building up of a large industry in Dedham and adjoining 
towns. Another member of the church, Miss Molly Fisher, 
built a parsonage in 1824, kept it in repair at her own ex- 
pense, and gave it by will to the society on her death in 
1837. 

The church received large accessions to its membership 
in 1828, and again in 1832: in the former year, forty-one; 
and, in the latter, forty-four. The members of the church 
residing in Needham and Dover withdrew in 1838, to form 
a separate church. In 1843 the church dismissed sixteen 
of its members to form the Baptist church of East Ded- 
ham, and in 1858 it dismissed others to constitute the 
Baptist church of South Dedham (Norwood). 

The Rev. Mr. Adlam remained with the church until 
1827, when he was succeeded Jan. 3, 1828, by the Rev. 
Jonathan Aldrich, who remained until Feb. 27, 1830. Since 



124 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

that time, the succession of ministers has been as follows : 
the Rev. Thomas Driver, May, 1830, to the autumn of 1838 ; 
the Rev. T. G. Freeman, from the spring of 1839 to April, 
1841 ; the Rev. Joseph B. Damon, from Oct. 13, 1841, to 
October, 1843 ; the Rev. J. W. Parkhurst, from October, 
1843, to Nov. 24, 1850; the Rev. Jeremiah Chaplain, from 
Nov. 24, 1850, to Sept. 6, 1858; the Rev. Benjamin W. 
Gardner, from Nov. 11, 1858, to Nov. i, 1867; the Rev. 
I. J. Burgess, from Nov. i, 1867, to Sept. 9, 1871 ; the Rev. 
Samuel J. Frost, from Sept. 15, 1872, to April 26, 1874; the 
Rev. S. C, Chandler, from Sept. 6, 1874, to Jan. 20, 1878 ; 
the Rev. T. M. Merriman, from April 6, 1879, ^o May 6, 
1883 ; the Rev. E. S. Ufford, from June 28, 1883, to Octo- 
ber, 1886; the Rev. O. P. Bessie, from November, 1886, to 
the present time. 

With the exception of one or two years when first organ- 
ized, the society has raised all moneys by subscription and 
by the renting of pews. In 1832, a vestry was built, which 
was enlarged a few years later. Land was bought in 1842 
for enlarging the meeting-house yard. In the latter year, 
the church passed strong resolutions condemning slavery, 
and pledging the church to oppose it in every manner 
possible. The meeting-house was enlarged and repaired in 
1834, at a cost of $1,403.73. In 1846, alterations were made 
in the galleries, and new pews built. The pew-owners, in 
1852, sold their pews to the society at a nominal sum; and 
since then they have been rented annually. During this 
year, the meeting-house was painted, frescoed, and repaired, 
at a cost of $1,144.73 5 ^^'^ repairs were also made in 1858 
and in 1868. In 1873, a new bell was procured, at an ex- 
pense of $649.70, which was obtained by the sale of the old 
bell and by subscriptions. 

There was a brief period of trouble in the society in 
1843, concerning the dismissal of the Rev, Mr. Damon; 
but, with this exception, the society and church have been 
harmonious and successful almost without interruption since 
their formation. 



XL 

THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS. 

Beginning with the _year 1814, when Mr. White was set- 
tled, the life of the Clapboard Trees parish was harmonious 
and peaceful. From that time to this, it has quietly pur- 
sued its way ; and little has occurred in it that needs to be 
recorded. The population within the limits of the old terri- 
torial parish has probably never much exceeded five hundred 
persons, and farming has been the chief industry. During 
the first half of the century, a few small mechanical indus- 
tries were carried on within the limits of the parish. Since 
then, two or three store-keepers and a dozen mechanics 
have found employment. The building of the Boston and 
Providence Railroad to the centre of the town, and the New 
York and New England Railroad through South Dedham, 
took away most of the mechanical industries of the village 
and many of its most enterprising citizens. The parish has 
become more strictly a farming community since then. Its 
business has lessened, and its population has not increased. 
Those families who gave life to the parish during the first 
half of the century have gradually disappeared or lessened 
in numbers, and there has been a gradual decrease in 
church attendance. 

In 1 8 14, the parish had $450 loaned on land securities, 
and notes of hand, signed by the original subscribers, to the 
amount of $1,482. This year it was "Voted, to ring the 
bell fifteen minutes, stop five minutes, and then toll ; under- 
taken by Mr. Moses Kingsbury at $9.87 1-2." The roads 
through the meeting-house yard were built by the voluntary 
labors of the members of the parish. The farm of Mr. 
Thacher was rented at a vendue ; and the parish paid for 
the rum and sugar furnished to the bidders and spectators 
on that occasion. 



126 



THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 



The collecting of the taxes at this period was given to 
the lowest bidder. The pews were rented for the year 
to the highest bidder. In 1816, the choir was paid $20, 
to be expended for its own benefit. A sum varying from 
$20 to $40 was paid to it for many years. In 181 7, it was 
"Voted, to put the ringing of the bell, taking care of the 
meeting-house, to the lowest bidder, the house to be swept 
once in six weeks, and the stay to be taken off the bell in six 
weeks; undertaken by Jason Gay for $6.87." During this 
year, a social library was started in the parish. 

In 1795, the last entry was 
made on the parish records of 
the moneys received from the 
town for school purposes. At 
about this time, the town was 
divided into school districts ; 
and the money went directly to 
these instead of to the parish. 
The number of schools con- 
tinued the same, but the local- 
ities of the school-houses were 
somewhat changed. In the 
early part of the present cen- 
tury, the north school, or that 
in West Dedham village, was 
located opposite the house re- 
cently occupied by Erastus E. 
Gay. Later on, a house was 
^^<-^t~l^ built farther south, which was 
replaced on the same site by 
the Colburn School in 1874, at a cost of $12,000. 

During the present century, the parish has had a number 
of its young men graduate at colleges. The best known of 
these is Warren Colburn, the author of Elcuicnts of Intel- 
lectual Aritlmictic, even now one of the most widely cir- 
culated of text-books. It has been translated into many 
languages and sold extensively. He was born at Pond 
Plain, March i, 1793, the son of Richard and Joana Cob 





THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 12/ 

burn. The family afterward lived for six years at the Clap- 
board Trees, then removed to Lowell, where Warren became 
a machinist. He graduated at Harvard College in 1820, 
and the following year he published his Intellectual Arith- 
iiictic. He was for several years the superintendent of 
schools in Lowell. His death occurred Sept. 13, 1833, 
when he was forty years of age. 

Dana P. Colburn was born in the parish Sept. 29, 1823, 
graduated at the Bridgewater Normal School, and in 1854 
became the principal of the Rhode Lsland Normal School, 
which position he held until his death in 1859. His re- 
mains repose in the parish burial-ground. He was the 
author of various works on arithmetic, which would have 
had a wide and increasing circulation had the author lived. 

Reuben A. Guild, the son of Deacon Reuben Guild, was 
born May 4, 1822, and graduated at Brown University in 
1847. Immediately after graduation he became the assist- 
ant librarian at Brown University, and in 1848 librarian, 
which position he now holds, after forty years of continuous 
service. He has written much for the newspapers and mag- 
azines, and is the author of the Librariaiis Manual, 1858 ; 
Life, Times, and Correspondence of James Manning, First 
President of Broivn University, 1864; History of Brown 
University, 1867; A Chaplain of the Revolution, 1886. He 
is now engaged upon a work entitled Life and JV/-itings of 
Roger Williams, the Founder of Rhode Island, which will be 
published in 1888. 

John Richards and George Ellis were elected deacons 
June 7, 1810. John Richards, the son of John and Rebecca 
Richards, was born Jan. 24, 1755, and died June 11, 1841. 
He lived near Walpole Corner, where he was a farmer. He 
gave a considerable sum of money to the parish at his de- 
cease. George Ellis was born March 19, 1762, the son of 
Jonathan and Mary Ellis. His farm was at the south end 
of Pond Plain, and is now owned by Mr. Samuel F. Allen. 
He was a general of militia, and also an influential citizen. 
He died Jan. 26, 1849. 

These men were succeeded, about the year 1840, by 



128 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

Reuben Guild, who was born in the south parish Sept. 20, 
1793. He settled in West Dedham village in 18 16, when 
he bought the house and land since known as "the Guild 
place." He was for many years a blacksmith and carriage 
builder, and he also ran a line of stages to Dedham village. 
A Sunday-school was started by Mr. White about 1826, with 
a library. Deacon Guild was the superintendent for many 
years. In 1877, he joined the Baptist church; and he died 
in 1882. He has had no successor in the deacon's office. 

Only two physicians have resided in the parish since its 
formation. The second of these was Dr. Francis Howe, 
who was born in Framingham, Sept. 26, 1787, moved to the 
parish in June, 18 14, married Lucy Gay in 18 18, and died 
May 18, 1859. For forty-five years, he was successful in his 
profession, and was a useful and respected member of the 
parish. 

About the middle of the last century a tavern was built 
in West Dedham. It was located on what is now High 
Street, which was then or somewhat later the line of the 
Boston and Hartford stage. It was also patronized by the 
farmers, who carried their produce to market in Boston from 
the towns farther south. From about 1760, it was kept for 
many years by Abner Ellis, the son of Deacon Joseph Ellis. 
He was succeeded by Col. Abner Ellis, his son, who was 
born Jan. 4, 1770, and who died Dec. 14, 1844. He was a 
representative to the General Court in 1 814-15, and again 
in 1823. His daughter Mary married Theodore Gay, by 
whom he was succeeded. Opposite the tavern was the 
training-ground, where the militia met for their drills and 
reviews previous to 1840, when training-day was abolished. 
This was for a long period, the scene of an annual merry- 
making, which attracted a large number of people. The 
numerous military titles which appear in the history of the 
parish attest to the interest which was taken in its military 
organizations, which seem to have been kept up with skill 
and promptitude. 

The parish clerk in 1841-42 was Theodore Gay, who suc- 
ceeded Col. Abner Ellis as the tavern-keeper. When the 



THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 1 29 

West Dedham post-office was established in 1824, he 
became the postmaster, which office he held until 1879, 
when he was succeeded by Charles H. Ellis. After the 
railroads had taken away the stage routes, the tavern was 
given up, and a grocery store was kept in the same building, 
which was burned in the spring of 1887. Mr. Gay was a 
colonel of militia, and he was long familiarly known as 
"Colonel Thody." He died in 1881, in his eighty-eighth 
year. Lusher Gay was parish clerk from 1843 to 1848, 
Charles Ellis in 1849, ^^'^^ Merrill D. Ellis from 1850 to 
1872. The latter was a representative from 1841 to 1843, 
and he was a selectman for many years. John D. Whiting 
was parish clerk from 1873 to 1879, ^^^ Erastus E. Gay 
from 1880 to his death in 1887. In July, 1887, George 
Albert French was elected to the office. Joseph Fisher 
was the treasurer of the parish from 1846 to 1876, and he 
was for many years a very liberal contributor to its financial 
support. He took a zealous interest in the affairs of the 
parish, contributed liberally for repairing the meeting-house, 
paid the deficit on the new organ, and did much else to keep 
the parish in a successful condition. Erastus E. Gay also 
took a devoted interest in the affairs of the parish, and 
contributed most liberally of his money and time in its 
behalf. 

At the March meeting in 1804, a committee was selected 
to build a hearse, and a suitable house in which it might be 
kept. In that year, George Ellis was paid $40 for building a 
hearse-house, Eliphalet Baker giving the land on which it was 
built, Benjamin Fisher $61 for a hearse and harness, and 
Aaron Baker $1 for a lock and fixing the same to the bury- 
ing-ground gate. In 1805, Aaron Baker was paid $3 for a 
bier for the use of the parish. In 18 13, a committee was 
appoinfed to see about the enlargement of the burying- 
ground, and to invite the Baptist society to aid in so doing. 
The treasurer's accounts do not afford any evidence that 
land was purchased at this time, and yet it may have been 
bought by a general subscription. In 1820, however, land 
was bought of Sabin Baker, to enlarge it to the south, for 



[30 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

which he was paid $13. In 1837, a committee was appointed 
to confer with the other society with reference to building 
a tomb in the burying-ground. In 1859, the two societies 
joined in repairing the hearse and the public tomb. Addi- 
tions of land were made by purchase in 1843 and in i860. 
The two parishes held a fair in 1843, and the proceeds were 
devoted to fencing the cemetery. The whole sum expended 
at this time was about $1,100. A piece of land to the east 
was purchased, and the grounds were greatly improved. 

In 1 82 1, a committee, consisting of George Ellis, Col. 
Abner Ellis, and Lusher Gay, was appointed for the purpose 
of giving certificates agreeable to the act of the Common- 
wealth respecting worship and religious freedom, passed 
June 18, 181 1. This act of 18 11 was a practical breaking 
down of the old parish system of church administration, and 
permitted people to pay freely for that kind of religion which 
they preferred. The old method of taxation for church sup- 
port was continued, but it gradually grew less efficient until 
it was abolished. Under this act, a person wishing to change 
his tax from one church to another had simply to state his 
purpose in writing to the clerk of the parish with which he 
had been connected. 

About $300 to $350 were raised at this time each year, 
for paying the minister and for the contingent expenses of 
the parish. The receipts from pew-rents were about $150 
annually. In 1826, this vote was passed: " Voted, that an 
organ be admitted into the meeting-house, on condition that 
it shall be taken out before it becomes any expense to the 
parish, and the meeting-house put in repair." The parish 
records afford no evidence that an organ was procured at 
this time. The same year a committee was appointed to 
report on the utility and expense of lowering the pulpit ; 
and the next year the committee was given the right to 
lower it, if the expense did not exceed $25. 

In 1828, the changing of the psalm-books was referred to 
a committee of nine, who reported that it was inexpedient. 
The following was passed at the parish meeting : " Voted, 
that the people of color have the southeast pew in the gal- 



THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 131 

lery," which was the one nearest the door and the farthest 
from the pulpit. 

The parish committee, in 1829, was instructed to inform 
the town that the meeting-house could be had for town meet- 
ings when it was desired for that purpose. For a number of 
years, the town meeting went about to the different par- 
ishes ; and it was several times held in the Clapboard Trees 
meeting-house. In 1830, a committee of seven was chosen 
to spend $2$ in lowering the pulpit, that work not having 
been done in 1826. The sum paid for the care of the meet- 
inghouse had gradually risen to $16 in 1831, which was the 
amount paid for several succeeding years. 

On the first Wednesday in June, 1831, the Female Benev- 
olent Society was organized, with eighty members. The 
meeting was held at the house of Mr. White; and Mrs. 
White was made the president, an office which she held con- 
tinuously for twenty-six years. This society was organized 
to advance the general welfare of the parish, to promote 
its social. life, and to facilitate and increase its benevolent 
work. It has since that time been the most active organ- 
ization connected with the parish, and it has contributed 
more money than any other for advancing parish inter- 
ests. During the first fifty years of its existence, it raised 
^3,581.54, which it spent as follows: for the help of the poor 
and as gifts to individuals, $1,122.34; ^oi" ^'''s repairing of 
the meeting-house, $577.68; for the parish library, $452.76; 
for the purchase of an organ, $811.70; for the improvement 
of the cemetery, $617.06. Since 1881, this society has con- 
tributed $409.63 towards the repairing of the church ; and it 
has provided the meeting-house with new cushions at an 
expense of about $150. To the building of the parsonage in 
1885, the society contributed $200. In 1881, the society 
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its organization with a 
meeting in Colburn Hall, when the Rev. C. S. Locke gave an 
historical address. He said : " Much of the success of the 
society was due to Mrs. White's energy and organizing 
and executive ability. The first vice-president was Mrs. 
Polly Gay, and the first treasurer Miss Mary Ellis, who 



132 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

was married to Mr. Theodore Gay in 1833, and, under the 
name of Mary E. Gay, continued as treasurer till 1869, hold- 
ing the office thirty-eight years. The presidents after Mrs. 
White have been Mrs. Anne Locke, Mrs. Lucy Howe, Mrs. 
L. P. K. Gifford, Miss M. E. Pettee, Mrs. Crowninshicld, 
Mrs. Mary E. Fisher, Mrs. Lucy N. Cooke, and Mrs. George 
Fisher ; and the vice-presidents since Mrs. Gay have been 
Miss Sally Gay, Mrs. Susan D. Ellis, Mrs. Lucy Howe, Mrs. 
Mary E. Fisher, Miss Pettee, Miss Howe, Mrs. F. Copcland, 
Mrs. Charles French, and Mrs. Albert Gay ; and the treas- 
urers who have succeeded Mrs. Gay are Mrs. Caroline Ellis, 
Mrs. George Fisher, Miss Caroline Howe, and Mrs. William 
Colburn. The society was reorganized in 1869 [when it 
became the Ladies' Benevolent Society], and it adopted a 
constitution and by-laws. Since that time, Mrs. Fannie 
Draper has been the secretary." 

In 1833, the Hon. Joshua Fisher, of Beverly, who was 
born in the parish, left the sum of ^3,000 in his will, to be 
added to the ministerial fund. In 1836, the value of this 
fund was ^5,252.82. This so far increased the receipts of 
the parish that for many years the sum raised for ministe- 
rial and contingent expenses was only ^175. In 1838, the 
parish passed a vote of thanks to the unknown donor of a 
new bell, who subsequently proved to be Deacon John Rich- 
ards. In 1839, Calvin F. Ellis, Rev. John White, Colburn 
Ellis, Richard Ellis, and Doctor Francis Howe were a com- 
mittee to procure one hundred and fifty psalm books, two 
to be put in each pew below, one in each pew in the gallery, 
and the rest to be reserved for the use of the singers. The 
book selected was Greenwood's Collection of Hymns. 

In 1853, the Rev. Francis LeBaron was invited to become 
the pastor of the society; but he declined. In July, 1854, 
the Rev. Richard Metcalf, of Providence, received a call 
to the vacant pastorate ; but he also declined. The Rev. 
Calvin S. Locke was invited in October ; and December 6 he 
began his connection with the parish, receiving ordination 
on that day. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Oliver 
Stearns, of Hingham ; and the Rev. Dr. Morison, the Rev. 



THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 1 33 

Dr. Lamson, and the Rev. F. D. Huntington took part in 
the service. During this pastorate, the custom of giving the 
minister a vacation in the summer began, Mr. Locke having 
made a request for it in his letter of acceptance. 

In 1855, the meeting-house was repaired by subscription, 
and at an expense of $1,230.30. The committee having 
charge of the repairs consisted of Colburn Ellis, Joseph 
Crane, Lusher G. Baker, Tyler Thayer, and Caleb Ellis. 
"The floor was raised," says Mr. Locke ; "a lower and more 
elegant pulpit was substituted for the old one, and the scat- 
tered, uncomfortable, and uncomely pews were exchanged 
for the concentric seats, which both bring the members of 
the congregation nearer one another and face to face with 
the minister; the bare walls and ceilings were handsomely 
frescoed ; and it is worthy of note that these repairs were 
accomplished without the alienation of a single member, 
and that they gave general satisfaction. The Ladies' Benev- 
olent Society carpeted, cushioned, and otherwise furnished 
the church, at an expense of $S77.6'S>. At the same time. 
Hymns for Church of Christ was substituted for Greenwood's 
collection." While the church was being repaired, the meet- 
ings for worship were held in Nahatan Hall, which was in a 
house situated a little west of the meeting-house, and for 
many years used as a parsonage. This was through all the 
middle period of the century, and probably from early in the 
century, the principal social gathering place of the parish. 
It was burned in 1879. Mr. Locke says of this house and 
hall : " This house formerly stood on the south side of 
Nahatan Street, and was reached by a lane from Clapboard- 
Trees Street. Nahatan Hall was connected with it, and was 
used without charge by the owner for the fairs, social gath- 
erings, and ladies' meetings of the parish. It is a legend 
about this house that Moll Pitcher, an uncanny woman from 
Lynn, once stopped at it, and asked for a drink of cider. 
Being refused, she said, ' Your neck will snap like this,' at 
the same time breaking the stem of her clay pipe. Shortly 
after, the man fell and broke his neck. It was also pre- 
dicted that the house would be destroyed by fire." In 1857, 



134 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

the organ which had been used in the first parish meeting- 
house since 1821 was purchased, and was opened on July 12. 

Mr. Locke severed his connection with the parish June 
20, 1864. During and since his pastorate, Mr. Locke 
preached and published the following sermons, which have 
an intimate connection with the history of the parish : on 
the death of Mrs. Olive Morse Guild (wife of Deacon 
Guild), 1858; "The Patriotic Volunteer," at the funeral of 
George F. Whiting, 1862; on the death of Newell Fisher, 
1862; "Other Men have Labored," a history of the parish, 
preached after the burning of the churcli records, 1879. 

At the beginning of his ministry, Mr. Locke bought the 
house once owned by the Rev. Thomas Thacher. He fol- 
lowed in the ways of his predecessors, and took boys into 
his house to prepare them for college. After his resigna- 
tion, he established a boarding and day school in his house. 

In 1865, the old parish territorial organization having 
entirely disappeared, it became desirable to know who were 
the members of the parish. A very brief paper was drawn 
up, entered on the clerk's records, and those wishing to act 
with the parish signed their names to it. This statement 
here follows, together with the names of those who have 
signed it : — 

We, the subscribers of the third parisli in Dedham, hereby declare 
ourselves to be members of said parish. 

Joseph Fisher, Caleb Ellis, 

James Pettee, Calvin S. Locke, 

Edward Sumner, J. W. Gay, 

Sam. F. Allen, Warren Covell, 

Henry L. Pettee, John E. Whiting, 

F. Copeland, Charles French, 

Moses Kingsbury, George D. Draper, 

Caleb Smith, Daniel W. Parker, 

Reuben Hunting, Reuben Guild, 

John D. Ellis, Nathan Phillips, 

Rufus French, Theodore Gay, 

John C. Nash, Francis W. Baker, 

Samuel Cheney, Merrill D. Ellis, 

Joseph Crane, Erastus E. Gay, 

Joshua Fisher, James A. Gay, 



THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 1 35 

Ellis Gay, Hattie S. Fisher, 

George M. French, Mrs. Albert Gay, 

Asa Fisher, Mrs. H. Gay, 

William Colburn, Mrs. Percy Tisdale, 

Jabez Fisher, Maria Pettee, 

John Morgan, Harriet Pettee, 

G. A. French, Mrs. Geo. French, 

B. F. White, Henrietta L. French, 

Mary E. Fisher, Jas. M. Ellis, 

Mrs. B. F. White, Percy E. Tisdale. 

The parish came into possession, in 1865, of $11,000, left 
to it in the will of Lusher Gay, who was born Aug. 28, 
1803, and who died June 15, 1855,, He had been a life-long 
member of the congregation, and greatly interested in its 
affairs. 

The Rev. A. W. Stevens was, in 1865, invited to become 
the pastor; but he declined. From May, 1866, to May, 1867, 
the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Henry Westcott, who 
was born in the town of Warwick, R.I., in 1831, graduated 
at Brown University, studied theology at Cambridge, and 
was settled at Barre in i860. In 1867, he was settled at 
Lexington, where he remained fourteen years. In 1881, he 
removed to Melrose, and preached to that and the Maiden 
parishes until his death, July 14, 1883. In 1884, a volume 
containing fourteen of his sermons, a brief biographical 
sketch, and the funeral tributes, was edited and privately 
published by his wife. 

In 1866, the parish library was formed. In 1870, it was 
made an adjunct of the parish, and officers were chosen at 
the parish meeting. Warren Covell was elected trustee, and 
John Whiting librarian. An excellent collection of valuable 
books was secured, which was much used until a branch of 
the public library was established. 

The Rev. Elisha Gifford became the pastor in 1867, begin- 
ning his connection with the parish on the third Sunday of 
September. In 1869 occurred the first break in the order of 
two services, morning and afternoon. At the parish meet- 
ing, it was voted that the services should be held at 10.30 
A.M. and 2 P.M., except in July and August, when there 



136 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

should be a service in the morning only, with three Sundays 
in August and one in the winter for vacation. In 1870, it 
was voted to have no service the first two Sundays of August, 
no afternoon service in July and August, and the parish com- 
mittee was authorized to dispense with the afternoon service 
on stormy days. In a year or two more, the afternoon ser- 
vice was discontinued. Mr. Gifford gave up his connection 
with the parish June 15, 1872. 

At about this time, the church ordinances were discon- 
tinued, and the church ceased to exist. Probably from 1865, 
when the parish was reorganized, it became the sole per- 
petuator of the life of tjje old church and parish. 

Jan. I, 1873, the Rev. Edward Crowninshield became the 
pastor. Ill 1877, a new organ was procured, which was paid 
for by the sale of the old one, a contribution of $811.70 
by the Ladies' Benevolent Society, and about $200 given by 
Joseph Fisher. In June, 1879, ^^^ house which had been 
used for many years as a minister's house, owned by Joseph 
Fisher, was burned. It accidentally caught fire on the 
morning Mr. Crowninshield had expected to remove from 
it, and many of his goods were burned. 

Mr. Crowninshield was born in Marblehead in 1840. His 
opportunities for an education were limited, and he worked 
for some years as a shoemaker. He took the course at the 
Harvard Divinity School, and was settled at Exeter, N.H., 
where he remained for only about one year. In 1879, he 
went from West Dedham to Belfast, Me., where he remained 
until his death, which occurred Feb. 6, 1883. In a notice of 
him, his classmate, the Rev. N. P. Oilman, said : — 

Mr. Crowninshield's character was so admirably simple, duplicity, 
doubleness of any kind, was so foreign to him, that fuller knowledge only 
confirmed the first strong impression of liking and respect which he 
invariably made. . . . 

Neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, by circumstances he was 
a prophetic soul, a born preacher of righteousness. With an aristocratic 
name, he was a son of the people, and honored the name, more than 
fortune or rank could have done, by exalted character and rich devotion 
to the kingdom of God. Of that kingdom he had the strenuous and 
radical conceptions which hardly fail those who fight their way to light. 
His manly living justified his creed. 



THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 1 37 

Among Mr. Crowninshield's intimate friends were the 
Rev. W. C. Gannett and the Rev. John W. Chadwick. The 
former wrote many pages of his admirable biography of his 
father while staying at the Clapboard Trees parsonage. In 
the Christian Register, Mr. Chadwick paid this tribute to 
the memory of his friend : — 

A sudden cold had fastened on some seat of chronic ailment. Then 
there was general implication of the whole system, and at the last some 
days of fiery pain. Desiring almost passionately to recover for the sake 
of his family, so dependent on his support and sympathy, and that he 
might carry on his work, he was nevertheless able to cope with the 
inevitable event with a courageous heart. . . . 

He was settled first in Exeter, N.H.; and his hopes were high, and 
all omens seemed auspicious. . . . West Dedham was his Wartburg, 
his Arabia, his quiet place for gathering up his strength and clearing his 
self-consciousness. His house and church were near together on such 
a heaven-kissing hill as not many towns in Massachusetts have to show. 
The landscape upon which he looked abroad was calculated to enlarge 
his mind, and had its natural operation. But to this he added much 
reading and study of good books. . . . When he had left West Dedham 
and gone to Belfast, I had abetter opportunity to note the features of his 
mind than I had had before. Many of his sermons were printed in the 
local papers and in the Trjie Religion. And then I saw how much the 
quiet, meditative life on the West Dedham hill had done for him. His 
thought had grown immeasurably fuller and deeper, and his expression 
of it clearer and firmer in a like degree. . . . His aptitade was for 
practical rather than for speculative themes. He interpreted his ministe- 
rial function as an instrument of social reformation. Problems of edu- 
cation and political science had for him commanding interest, and 
he brought to them a fine illumination. . . . 

The top and crown of his rejoicing was his domestic life. His most 
passionate ambition ever was to give his children such an education 
as would fit them for some honorable and useful station in the world. . . . 
In all personal relations, he seemed to me most generous and loyal. 
For the ties of kinship he had great regard. A more filial and paternal 
spirit it has not been my lot to know. 

During several months in 1879 and 1880, the pulpit was 
supplied by the Rev. George VV. Hosmer, D.D. The Rev. 
George W. Cooke began his connection with the parish 
Dec I, 1880; and he resigned June 13, 1887. In 1883, the 
meeting-house was struck by lightning and seriously dam- 



138 THE CLAPBOARD TREES PARISH 

aged. The clerk wrote this account of it in the parish 
records : — 

West Dediia.m, Friday, April 20, 1S83 

The church of the Unitarian society and of the third parish in 
Dedham was this day struck by a bolt of lightning of unusual power 
and force. The church was almost lifted from its foundations, and was 
very badly shattered and all but one window more or less broken. It 
was visited on the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, as estimated, 
by more than two thousand persons ; and it was agreed by all to be the 
most wonderful display of the power of a lightning bolt ever seen in this 
vicinity. 

The society held Sunday services on the two following Sabbaths in 
Colburn Hall, and on the third Sabbath, May 6, in the Baptist church, 
the use of which had been kindly offered them by the parish committee 
of the Baptist society, and continued there until July i, when the annual 
summer vacation was commenced, one month earlier than usual, on 
account of sickness and affliction in the family of Mr. Cooke, the pastor 
of the society. Services commenced in the church after the repairs 
were completed, September 12, 

The repairs made at this time included the painting of 
the meeting-house outside and in, the frescoing of the in- 
terior, new carpets and new cushions in 1886. The work 
was efficiently superintended by the clerk, E. E. Gay ; and 
the whole expenditure was ^1,511.18. Since the comple- 
tion of these repairs, the meeting-house presents as attrac- 
tive and tasteful an interior as can be found in any country 
church in the State. 

At the parish meeting of 1884, a committee, consisting of 
the Rev. C. S. Locke, B. F. White, and Joseph L. Fisher, 
was appointed to take into consideration the advisability of 
building a parsonage, and to report methods of operation to 
that effect. At a special meeting, it was decided to build; 
and George Fisher, Charles French, George Kingsbury, 
George M. French, Lusher G. Baker, Miss Hattie Fisher, 
and Mrs. Kate White were appointed a committee to pur- 
chase a lot and to erect a house. Work was begun in the 
autumn of 1884; and the house was completed early in 
July, 1885, when Mr. Cooke immediately moved into it. 
The cost of land and the erection of the house was about 
.^^3,500. The house was located on High Street, opposite 
Gay, and on land purchased of Lusher and Granville Baker. 



THE PARISH IN RECENT YEARS 1 39 

On the loth of January, 1886, the parish observed the 
one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its legal existence. 
The night preceding was very stormy, and it was found on 
Sunday morning that the meeting-house could not be occu- 
pied. The few who braved the weather met in Colburn 
Hall, when Mr. Cooke preached a sermon, in which he de- 
scribed the formation of the parish and the building up of 
the congregation and church under the first minister. On 
the following Sunday, the commemorative service was held 
in the meeting-house ; and an historical discourse was given 
concerning the second minister and the parish in the Revo- 
lution. Neighboring ministers were present, and brief 
addresses were made. In June, Mr. Cooke continued the 
history of the parish with two sermons on the parish under 
its third and fourth ministers. 

In 1887, the trustees of the ministerial fund reported that 
the whole amount of the fund was $15,606.61, and the debts 
of the parish were $2,600. 




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